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Our Correspondent in Bombay
While one medical report has confirmed the presence of anthrax spores in the white powdery substance mailed to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on October 24, another report turned up negative results for the same substance.
The Maharashtra government had sent samples of the white powder to two different institutes - Haffkine Institute and Molasivka Institute - for analysis.
Molecular Diagnosticsand Research Centre, Thane, in its report confirmed the presence of anthrax spores, while Haffkine Institute, Bombay, said its tests did not detect any anthrax spores.
"Out of four samples referred to the Thane centre, one showed undisputed evidence of presence of Anthrax bacilli," director general of state health services Dr Subhash Salunke said.
However, repeated efforts to culture anthrax germs by conventional methods at Haffkine institute, the state-owned microbiology lab, have not shown any such growth, he said.
Salunke said there was no need for panic as the growth of organisms from suspicious samples is extremely slow or negative.
Bhujbal, who also holds home portfolio, confirmed the reports of the Thane laboratory and said the powder would be sent for further examination to Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratory at Gwalior.
The results from the Gwalior lab would be available in another 48 hours, official sources said.
Six employees of Bhujbal's office, who were exposed to the suspicious powder, were reported to be alright.
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