Suspicious 'Anthrax Spore Mail' Reported in Jeju... Rapid Test Result 'Negative'

Jeju Health and Environment Research Institute, Undergoing Precise Analysis

On the 28th, according to Jeju Dongbu Police Station and Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, an unidentified white powder-filled package was delivered to Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, and the relevant authorities are conducting a detailed analysis.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] An unidentified white powder was delivered in a package to Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, prompting authorities to conduct a detailed analysis.

According to the Jeju Eastern Police Station and Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters on the 28th, at around 1:13 PM, a resident of Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, Mr. A, received a postal item sent from overseas and reported to Hamdeok Police Substation that "a package containing white powder suspected to be anthrax was received."

At the request of the police, the 9th Marine Brigade and fire authorities dispatched personnel and conducted a preliminary inspection, which confirmed a negative reaction for anthrax.

Hamdeok Police Substation caused a temporary commotion by restricting access to outsiders due to the white powder, but operations have since returned to normal.

Currently, the Jeju Provincial Institute of Health and Environment is conducting a detailed analysis of the white powder.

Anthrax is the causative bacterium of anthrax disease, a zoonotic infectious disease, and is a representative biological weapon. It has a fatality rate of up to 95% upon infection, and anthrax spores are known for their resilience, surviving in soil for 8 to 10 years.

Anthrax can infect through the respiratory tract, and it is known that an amount of anthrax spores equivalent to a packet of sugar could destroy the entire United States. In fact, in November 2001, an anthrax bioterrorism incident using postal mail occurred in the United States, resulting in five deaths.