U.S. Steps Up Germ Defense, Speeds Smallpox Vaccine

[Guest guest]

BIIIIIIIG *Sigh*

-------------

http://dailynews./h/nm/20011003/ts/attack_congress_bioterror_

dc_2.html

Wednesday October 3 3:08 PM ET

U.S. Steps Up Germ Defense, Speeds Smallpox Vaccine

By Joanne Kenen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of Health and Human Services (news -

web sites) Tommy on Wednesday outlined steps the government

is taking to strengthen bioterror defenses, including speeding up

development of a new smallpox vaccine that should be ready for

emergency use next year.

Appearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human

Services, said federal health officials responded swiftly to

the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington and he was confident

they could respond quickly to other emergencies where germ warfare

could be a threat.

But he acknowledged more needed to be done to shore up the public

health system, expand surveillance of potential epidemics or food

contaminants, and train local doctors, nurses and emergency medical

technicians across the country to recognize such diseases as

smallpox, anthrax and plague.

``Let me characterize our status this way. We are prepared to

respond. But there is more we can do -- and must do -- to strengthen

our response,'' said.

A biological attack could be stealthy, without the hijackings and

explosions that characterized the attacks on the Pentagon (news - web

sites) and the World Trade Center. Medical workers and

epidemiologists would have to detect it quickly to minimize the loss

of life, he said.

Early symptoms of anthrax, for instance, are quite similar to an

ordinary cold or flu -- except that it is fatal if not treated in the

first 24 hours.

Some local officials who have participated in simulation exercises

and training sessions sounded more worried than . Dr.

Cantrill, an emergency medical expert in Denver, took part in one

simulation last year that had thousands of fatalities and tens of

thousands of ill patients.

Hospitals, he told the committee, ``could not adjust to a sudden

increase in patient load without degenerating into chaos.'' He said a

smallpox outbreak could make the infamous 1918 flu pandemic, which

killed more than half a million people in the United States alone,

``look like a walk in the park.''

said the government does not plan on launching a campaign to

vaccinate everyone against smallpox as vaccines have side effects and

there is no sign of an immediate threat of a smallpox attack. But by

having a larger and better stockpile of vaccine, people in an

affected region could be vaccinated swiftly if an outbreak did occur.

VACCINES TO BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR

Originally, the government hoped to have the new vaccine, based on

recombinant DNA techniques, available by 2004 or 2005. But

said 40 million doses would be available by mid to late 2002.

An aide to later told reporters the vaccine would be

produced by Acambis Plc, a British company with a facility in the

Boston area. The government in September had already announced a $343

million contract to begin testing the new vaccine, but legislation

pending in the Senate would provide about another $60 million to

accelerate the program.

Two different bipartisan teams of senators have introduced

legislation calling for an additional $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion to

protect the United States from germ warfare. said he too had

submitted a budget request to the Bush administration for emergency

funding, which he said was in a range similar to the two Senate bills.

Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Sen. Byrd (news -

bio - voting record), a West Virginia Democrat, said he was eager to

come up with the additional money but he and other senators also

expressed some frustration with 's confident expressions

about the ability to respond to an attack.

``I just don't believe that,'' Byrd said.

said people should be ``very vigilant,'' going to a doctor

if they have unusual symptoms such as rashes or coughing. But he said

people shouldn't be trying to get vaccines or gas masks.

``People, Americans, should not be scared into believing they need

gas masks and people should not be frightened into hoarding medicine

and food. There is nothing we know of to warrant such actions,'' he

said.

Several senators spoke of the need to address the issue of the 7,000

former Soviet scientists who had been engaged in developing

biological weapons during the Cold War. The U.S. government already

has a program to redirect former enemy nuclear scientists and several

senators said a similar program might be wise for germ warfare.

``The expertise (to make biological weapons) is out there,'' said

Sen. Bill Frist (news - bio - voting record), a Tennessee Republican

and co-sponsor with Massachusetts Democrat Kennedy of one of

the bioterror preparedness bills. ``It's probably out there to the

highest bidder.''

[Guest guest]

This seems to just be playing on people's fears. But if the threat is real,

what are some good ways to protect ourselves and our families? Is it a

matter of making sure we're healthy and our immune systems are in tip-top

shape, or are there also herbs, homeopathic remedies, etc. we should make

sure to have on hand? Anyone know? Sorry for all the " newbie " questions!

Thanks,

At 08:13 PM 10/03/2001 +0000, you wrote:

>Early symptoms of anthrax, for instance, are quite similar to an

>ordinary cold or flu -- except that it is fatal if not treated in the

>first 24 hours.

[Guest guest]

At 01:49 PM 10/03/2001 -0700, you wrote:

>This seems to just be playing on people's fears. But if the threat is real,

>what are some good ways to protect ourselves and our families? Is it a

>matter of making sure we're healthy and our immune systems are in tip-top

>shape, or are there also herbs, homeopathic remedies, etc. we should make

>sure to have on hand? Anyone know? Sorry for all the " newbie " questions!

>

>Thanks,

>

Hi ,

Vitamin C for one in the form of Sodium Ascorbate powder

And I posted a few weeks ago some of the homeopathic remedies.

Check the archives (and I will try to find what I sent and send again)

Good idea to get a kit and books and be ready

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & UK

530-740-0561 Voicemail in US

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

" All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men ( &

women) do nothing " ...Edmund Burke

ANY INFO OBTAINED HERE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE

DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.

Well Within's Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin

International Tours, Homestudy Courses, ANTHRAX & OTHER Vaccine Dangers

Education, Homeopathic Education

CEU's for nurses, Books & Multi-Pure Water Filters

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/3/2001 4:21:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

mommylovesrj@... writes:

>

Yep, BIIIIG sigh........also cha CHING!!! in the pockets of the

manufacturers. BIG BIG money!

Sherri

[Guest guest]

, If you can get into the archives, there is some great information

in the past week or so on this topic. Sandy

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE

IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS

REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE

CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION

WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE

MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

Re: U.S. Steps Up Germ Defense, Speeds Smallpox

Vaccine

This seems to just be playing on people's fears. But if the threat is real,

what are some good ways to protect ourselves and our families? Is it a

matter of making sure we're healthy and our immune systems are in tip-top

shape, or are there also herbs, homeopathic remedies, etc. we should make

sure to have on hand? Anyone know? Sorry for all the " newbie " questions!

Thanks,

At 08:13 PM 10/03/2001 +0000, you wrote:

>Early symptoms of anthrax, for instance, are quite similar to an

>ordinary cold or flu -- except that it is fatal if not treated in the

>first 24 hours.

[Guest guest]

<<embarrassed grin>> I forgot about the archives!

--

At 03:43 PM 10/03/2001 -0800, you wrote:

>, If you can get into the archives, there is some great information

>in the past week or so on this topic. Sandy