Russian Health Minister Offers Assistance To US To Fight Anthrax

Russian Minister of Health Yury Shevchenko does not rule out the possibility that the outbreak of anthrax in the United States is connected to terrorism. He expressed this opinion to journalists on Monday at the opening of the Third Congress of the Association of Surgeons in Moscow. According to Mr. Shevchenko, the doctors' community perceived the first three to four cases of anthrax as accidental. However, he said, the current situation is alarming. He believes the cases "call for thorough investigation." Mr. Shevchenko also things that what is dangerous is "not so much the disease itself, as mass scare about it." "Anthrax is treatable; Russia has all the necessary resources to treat it," the minister said. However, it does make sense to be cautious. Mr. Shevchenko mentioned that the Ministry of Health is ready to render assistance in the form of medications and vaccines to the Americans, if need be.