Bermudians could be potential carriers of diseases if they are exposed to acts of biological terrorism, head of the hospital's emergency Dr. Edward Schultz said yesterday.

Responding to the question whether Bermudian travellers could bring potentially dangerous diseases to the Island, he said: "That is a possibility. If they were in a large metropolitan city and were exposed to, say anthrax, they could spread it when they arrive in Bermuda.

"There are a number of diseases where a person could get an infection, but because of its incubation period would not fully develop until they return."

However, there is a slim chance harmful organisms could reach Bermuda's waters, according to Dr. Tony Knap of the Bermuda Biological Station (BBS).

While he said research on this subject was in its early stages, Dr. Knap said by the time any organism reached Bermuda, its effect would be close to nil. "We got funding from NASA to see whether what sort of organisms would make it. We know very little about how they travel.

"But if they did travel into Bermuda's waters, they would be so diluted by the time it got here. And we have so much sunlight, they would be destroyed," he said.

Dr. Knap said research conducted internationally has indicated that organisms have travelled from Africa to Barbados, but was dead by the time it reached the Caribbean island.