Additional preventive measures have been stepped up in Ukraine as envelopes containing anthrax spores are mailed to the USA. As Ukrposhta (Ukraine’s state postal service) Security and Control Service Chief Valery MAZURENKO told The Day, each incoming letter is processed by hand. Sifting through incoming mail and examining each envelope, experienced operators are on the lookout for any alien objects, including powdery substances, and if detected, they are to immediately inform law enforcement officials. Moreover, letters sent from abroad are processed both in customs zones of the international mail exchange and at customs crossings. Here envelopes are screened for alien objects and checked by a detail of medical workers charged with ensuring mailing security. Additionally, as Mr. Mazurenko stressed, all personnel has been instructed to step up measures to detect hazardous and prohibited objects. At the same time, Deputy Chief Inspector of the State Department of Veterinary Medicine Oleksandr KUCHERIAVENKO told The Day on October 15 that, unlike the USA, we are familiar with anthrax and thus know how to fight it. However, in the aftermath of recent events, control over the preservation of vaccine strains has been tightened in Ukraine. “Of course, if anthrax is used in bacteriological warfare, the situation will become quite critical, because we vaccinate mainly cattle. But our experts can confirm a diagnosis within minutes, and, just in case, production of the vaccine has been recently increased,” Mr. Kucheriavenko said.
