Health chief treated in anthrax scare

By AINSLEY THOMSON

The Auckland District Health Board's chairman is taking medication to prevent anthrax infection after he opened an envelope yesterday containing white powder.

About 25 people were evacuated from an office block at Green Lane Hospital after Wayne Brown opened the brown A4 envelope from the United States around 10 am.

A creche was also moved to a recreation hall to reassure parents, and emergency services sealed off the top floor of the administration block, Building 10.

Experts are now trying to identify the powder, which could take up to 10 days.

Mr Brown said he was in the office with board secretary Ian Bell when he opened the envelope.

"Normally he might open the mail but unfortunately this particular time I did."

The envelope was hard to open so Mr Brown gave it a good rip - stirring up the powder and sending a puff towards Mr Bell.

Mr Brown recognised the American address on the envelope, but did not want to disclose it.

The two men quickly left the office and rang the hospital's emergency service.

Their clothes were taken away and they had decontamination showers.

Mr Brown said he and Mr Bell were taking medication to prevent anthrax infection. "It takes four days for the symptoms to develop, but if you haven't been taking the pills, when they develop you have had it."

Last night, Mr Brown said he was feeling fine, although a little apprehensive.

The powder was probably harmless, he said, but the experience had been unsettling.