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Pastimes : ANTHRAX Are you concerned about this fatal disease -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BillCh who wrote (7)	3/25/1999 2:42:00 PM
From: nuke44	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9

Bill, I know that it has probably been hyped in order to create some sort of panic for profit industry, but the only reason that this hype is so effective is that Anthrax is so dangerous. It is probably the ultimate chemical/biological agent. It is cheap and easy to produce. It keeps indefinitely (perhaps 20 years) if stored properly. It is easily adapted to weapons delivery systems either as an aerosol spray or loaded, freeze dried in munitions cannisters. It is very difficult to detect. It is easy to produce in large quantities and is so lethal that there are 100 million lethal doses per gram of anthrax material.(100,000 times deadlier than the most lethal nerve agent) If it is contracted through inhalation in is nearly 100% fatal if treatment is not begun prior to the onset of symptoms.(As opposed to cutaneous or gastrointestinal infection which is only about 20% fatal) The only known countermeasures are vaccine prior to exposure, or antibiotics prior to the onset of symptoms. All in all anthrax is probably potentially the most deadly weapon this side of nuclear weapons. Iraq is strongly suspected of having enough anthrax agent ready for use to wipe out Israel 100 times over. The only reason it hasn't been used against them yet is that it would almost guarantee a nuclear retaliation. I received a vaccination for anthrax prior to going to Somalia in 1993. I understand that there has been a rash of military personnel refusing to take the vaccination, even at the threat of being court martialed. Considering the alternative, I had no problem getting vaccinated. Have a nice day.