Police and health care officials have been placed on high alert across the nation in readiness for possible terrorist attacks.

On Thursday night in Fort Wayne, an anthrax scare led to a post office being evacuated, and officials at Kosciusko Community Hospital approved sending a supply of antibiotics to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne to provide assistance in treating patients.

"Thank goodness it turned out to be a false alarm," said Scott Helt, vice president of marketing at KCH. Helt said the hospital is in a heightened state of awareness in response to the president's request and officials at KCH are reviewing the disaster plan and what would transpire in case of an emergency.

Supplies of the necessary antibiotics were retained by KCH for this community's use and, Helt said, Lutheran and other affiliated hospitals would assist KCH if the need arose.

When the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department received a call for assistance in transporting the antibiotic, information was given that 50 people were exposed to anthrax when a package began leaking a white powdery substance. En route to Fort Wayne, the officer delivering the antibiotic was reportedly told there were 26 confirmed patients, officials said. By the time the antibiotic was delivered, however, it was apparently determined that the substance was not anthrax. Eleven people were reportedly taken to a Fort Wayne hospital for decontamination and officials have yet to determine what the powdery substance is.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said being on "heightened alert" means that police officers and citizens should be observant of suspicious activities.

"It's troubled times we live in," Rovenstine said, adding that any and all suspicions will be checked out and anything of significance will be passed along to the FBI and anti-terrorist teams.

As far as false anthrax scares, Rovenstine said, the people responsible will likely face criminal charges if caught. People are routinely arrested for selling or possessing items claimed to be illegal drugs. For example, a person can be charged with dealing with a substance represented to be a controlled substance for selling an aspirin - which is legal to have - but telling someone it is cocaine. The offense is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

Therefore, Rovenstine said, anyone purposely causing an anthrax scare could be charged.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, anthrax is a likely candidate for use as a weapon of biological terrorism. The bacteria is highly treatable, officials said, if it is recognized early enough in the development of infection.

According to the CDC, the three main types of anthrax are cutaneous (acquired through direct skin contact with source); gastrointestinal (acquired by ingestion); and inhalation (acquired through the airways from environmental sources). Anthrax is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another, according to a press release from the CDC.

A more detailed look at anthrax can be found on the Internet at WebMD.

Warsaw Police Department Chief Steve Foster said the high alert status means there is a greater chance of terrorist activity or a greater opportunity for other such acts to occur. He said his officers are working regular schedules with business as usual. [[In-content Ad]]