Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Homeland Security -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RocketMan who wrote (283)	11/2/2001 9:32:53 AM
From: Cage Rattler	Respond to of 827

====================================================================== MCW HealthLink Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin healthlink.mcw.edu ====================================================================== 1 November 2001 Vol. 6 No. 9 (1) Facts About Anthrax and Smallpox as Bioterrorism Weapons ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Concern about deliberate use of disease agents as bioterrorism weapons currently focuses on anthrax and smallpox, although there have been no smallpox attacks to date. The following information is provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The serious forms of human anthrax are inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and intestinal anthrax. Initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax infection may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal. Cutaneous anthrax may occur when the skin surface is exposed to the bacterium and a sore or swelled area appears on the skin. A central area of ulceration develops and a very dark, brownish scab forms. It can be painless and it may be accompanied by a fever. Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it occurs at all. Therefore, there is no need to vaccinate or treat people who have had contact with persons ill with anthrax. In persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented with antibiotic treatment, such as Ciprofloxacin (or Cipro), penicillin and doxycycline. Vaccination or use of antibiotics by the general public to prevent anthrax is not recommended. For smallpox, the average incubation period following exposure is about 12 days. Initial symptoms include high fever, fatigue, and head and back aches. A characteristic rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, follows in two to three days. The rash starts with flat red sores that develop at the same rate. Lesions become pus-filled and begin to crust early in the second week. Scabs develop and then separate and fall off after about three to four weeks. The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but death occurs in up to 30% of cases. Smallpox is spread from one person to another by infected saliva droplets that expose a susceptible person having face-to-face contact with the ill person. Routine vaccination against smallpox ended in 1972, and all Americans, except those who have had the disease itself, are believed to be susceptible. The US maintains a large supply of smallpox vaccine. However, vaccination against smallpox is not recommended to prevent the disease in the general public. While there is no cure for smallpox, the vaccine can lessen the severity of or prevent illness if given within four days after exposure. >> healthlink.mcw.edu