Military

DATE=10/16/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / ANTHRAX (L-O)

NUMBER=2-281860

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

INTRO: Israeli health officials say the country is on high alert for the possibility of anthrax attacks after multiple reports of exposure to the disease in the United States. Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Jerusalem.

TEXT: On Tuesday in central Jerusalem workers at the Israeli newspaper Maariv opened an envelope containing an unidentified white power and a note reading, "regards from Afghanistan."

The workers called police who told them to stay inside and close the windows. Hazardous materials specialists and police rushed to the scene.

Authorities quickly determined that the incident was a prank, but Israeli security officials took the situation seriously because of the anthrax attacks that have hit the United States in recent days.

Israeli biological weapons experts are testing suspicious letters, and thousands of Israelis have gone to government centers to update the gas masks and antidotes distributed during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Dozens of Iraqi Scud missiles rained down on Israel during the war, although none contained biological or chemical warheads.

Dr. Manfred Green is with the Israeli Center for Disease Control.

/// GREEN ACT #1 ///

We have been preparing for the possibility of the use of biological material for the last ten years so it is not something new for us. We have contingency plans that have been exercised regularly. So what we have done is we have basically elevated that to a higher state of alert now where we have now notified the authorities of the way in which it is being spread, or at least attempts to spread the bacteria in the United States.

/// END ACT ///

Dr. Green says Israeli doctors, hospitals and security officials have all received updated briefings on identifying and treating victims of a terrorist attack involving biological or chemical weapons.

He says the cases identified in the United States so far appear to be acts of bio-terrorism.

/// GREEN ACT #2 ///

It certainly matches terrorist aims. Creating panic. /// OPT /// One person needs to get sick and that is what they said we have created economic damage. It could be a criminal act, which would actually fit in as well. /// END OPT ///

/// END ACT ////

Health officials have asked the government for additional funds to continue building stockpiles of antibiotics.

Ministry of health officials say the last known case of anthrax in Israel was in 1986, and point out that most people exposed to anthrax spores can be treated with antibiotics. They stress the disease is not contagious. (Signed)

NEB/MB/GE/MAR