'Suspicious' envelopes received at UN test negative for anthrax - spokesman

Two suspicious envelopes received last week by the United Nations - which gets over 20,000 pieces of mail each day - have tested negative for anthrax, a UN spokesman said today.

Spokesman Fred Eckhard told journalists in New York that a package was found last Thursday in the room at UN Headquarters where mail is initially screened. Preliminary results showed the results were negative.

In another incident, a UN Development Programme (UNDP) staff member in a separate building reported on Friday that she had opened an envelope on Wednesday and discarded it. The staff member has been tested and preliminary results also showed she tested negative for anthrax. The material had been already thrown away and was therefore not tested, Mr. Eckhard said.

Asked about security precautions, the Spokesman said that UN staff had received guidance on how to deal with suspicious packages.