| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 14, 2001 |
Anthrax Hoaxes Still Going on in S. Africa |
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Despite appeals to the public to stop playing anthrax hoaxes, several cases were still reported daily in South Africa, particularly in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the South African Press Association reported on Wednesday.
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Despite appeals to the public to stop playing anthrax hoaxes, several cases were still reported daily in South Africa, particularly in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the South African Press Association reported on Wednesday.
It said to date a total of 670 people in KwaZulu-Natal alone had to be tested for anthrax after they came into contact with white powdery substance.
But tests of all these cases had returned negative, the provincial health department was quoted as saying.
The department said since Tuesday 20 more people had to be tested after scares at a local, a post office as well as three private residences.
"Despite the department of health's call to the public to stop playing these hoaxes, there are still numerous daily cases. The cost in terms of time, medication, money and stress on the patient is unnecessary," the department said.
The department warned that these thoughtless actions could cost lives because it was taking up the time of already overstretched personnel who could attend to other emergencies instead.
Hoaxes in the province over the past four weeks have affected mostly post offices, Durban International Airport and several government departments across the province.
Thousands of anthrax scares have been reported across the country following reports about anthrax infections in the United States last month, but all turned out to be hoaxes.
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