Drs. Need Quick Response to Anthrax

[Guest guest]

Gee, I WONDER why the rush? hmmm...

Carolyn

News AP Headlines

Tuesday May 11 7:09 PM ET

http://dailynews./headlines/ap/health/story.html?s=v/ap/19990511/hl

/anthrax_attack_1.html

Drs. Need Quick Response to Anthrax

By MARY PEMBERTON Associated Press Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) - Doctors need training on the symptoms of anthrax so they

don't think an infected person just had a bad flu, according to scientists

studying the possibility of a terrorist anthrax attack.

In a report being published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical

Association, the Working Group on Civilian Biodefense says an anthrax attack

could happen, and larger amounts of the vaccine need to be at the ready.

Anthrax is colorless, odorless, inexpensive to make and easy to transport.

The group cited a 1993 government report that said it would take only about

20 pounds of anthrax to kill 3 million people, the death toll equal or more

than that which could result from a hydrogen bomb.

``The possibility of a terrorist attack using bioweapons would be especially

difficult to predict, detect, or prevent, and thus it is among the most

feared terrorist scenarios,'' the report says.

In an attack, nearly half of those infected would die within 24 to 48 hours,

probably well before doctors knew what was going on, the report says.

Because anthrax infections can be controlled with antibiotics if

administered very early, doctors and radiologists need to know what to look

for, the report says.

Shortness of breath, an early sign of anthrax infection, could be mistaken

for pneumonia. Other early symptoms include fever, cough, headache,

vomiting, and chills, which could be mistaken for a bad flu.

``The trick here is to identify as quickly as possible and recommend

antibiotic treatment of all those who might have been exposed ... and treat

them for two months, which is a huge task,'' said Dr. D.A. ,

co-author of the report and director of the Center for Civilian Biodefense

Studies at s Hopkins University.

The doctors found that anthrax remains deadly far longer than previously

understood. It was believed that infection would occur within six days of

exposure. But the group found the danger period lasts up to 46 days.

Therefore, antibiotics need to be administered for two months.

Anthrax causes an infection outside the lungs that shows up on X-rays as a

distinctive wide band down the middle of the chest. ``Most radiologists

would be unaware of this particular finding,'' said.

If an anthrax attack happens, doctors should use vaccines in combination

with antibiotics, and cremation of bodies should be considered to prevent

transmission.

said the widespread use of the anthrax vaccine as a preventative

is not recommended, unless a terrorist problem becomes real. In the

meantime, efforts underway to produce large amounts of the vaccine should be

stepped up so it will be ready if needed, he said.

Although biological agents have seldom been dispersed in aerosol form, the

idea is not farfetched, the report said. It was tried without success in

1995 at a Tokyo subway station when the terrorist group Aum Shinrikyo

released anthrax and botulism.

said there are former Soviet scientists who have the expertise

needed by well-funded terrorist groups to implement an attack. They know how

to pick a harmful strain and mass produce so it lodges easily in the lungs,

he said.

At least 17 nations are believed to have biological weapons programs,

including Iraq and the former Soviet Union, but it is unknown how many are

working with anthrax, the report said

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Pennsylvania Parents for Vaccine Awareness

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Email: ppva@...

Web Page: http://www.erie.net/~noshotz

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The information contained in this message

should not be construed with medical or legal

advice. The vaccination decision is yours

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