Re: OT: Alarm sounded over bacterium

[Guest guest]

Is this for real? This seems alarmist and vague -- in one word:

fishy. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one more way to scare the

public, to

justify taking away more liberties, instituting more intrusive

measures -- all in the name of “security.” This originates, after

all, from a military installation. It's important to be skeptical of

anything coming from this source and their corporate allies. I'm sure

you're aware of how much money they suck from our budget. . . This

would be another great opportunity for “disaster

capitalism” (creating problems and making truckloads of money from

the solution you just happen to have). There are plenty of examples

in recent history.

On Apr 3, 2010, at 9:15 AM, Blymielymie wrote:

> CALL TO HOMELAND SECURITY

> Alarm sounded over bacterium

> Friday, April 2, 2010 2:50 AM

> By Jim Woods

> THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

> lin County officials have detected a higher-than-normal level

> of a bacterium that could be used as a biological agent, causing

> them to contact a number of state and federal agencies, including

> Homeland Security.

> But Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. C. Long said there is

> no cause for alarm about the tularemia bacterium.

> " At this time, we believe that this finding is not a public health

> risk, " Long said.

> Long said the reading detected yesterday at one of the county's air

> stations could have been the result of a newer, more-sensitive

> testing process that started yesterday.

> The reading was not high enough to cause concern for humans or

> animals, she said. Officials wouldn't say from which air station

> the reading came.

> Tularemia can be used as an agent for biological terrorism,

> according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long,

> however, said she didn't know of such a case in this country.

> Columbus Public Health and the lin County Board of Health

> regularly are in contact with agencies such as Homeland Security

> and the FBI to share information, said , spokesman

> for Columbus Public Health. He said this notification was routine.

> Tularemia occurs naturally in Ohio, though it also can be spread

> via ticks, insects, rabbits and rodents. No cases of tularemia have

> been reported recently in this area, Long said.

> The most-recently reported case was in lin County in 2009, the

> result of a tick bite. That person recovered.

> Symptoms of tularemia appear within three to five days of

> infection. They can include sudden fever, chills, headache,

> diarrhea, muscles aches, joint pain, dry cough and weakness.

> Pneumonia also can set in. If treated early with antibiotics, the

> patient can recover.

> If a person has such symptoms, he or she should contact a doctor,

> said.

> jwoods@...

>

>