A: Anthrax vaccine is
temperature sensitive.
The vaccine must be
stored within the
appropriate
temperature range (2-8
degrees celsius)
throughout the entire
vaccination process. It
should be removed just
prior to administering
the shot.
http://www.anthrax.mil/documents/10
48maradmin15MAR07.pdf.
temperature sensitive.
The vaccine must be
stored within the
appropriate
temperature range (2-8
degrees celsius)
throughout the entire
vaccination process. It
should be removed just
prior to administering
the shot.
http://www.anthrax.mil/documents/10
48maradmin15MAR07.pdf.
What is Anthrax?
Anthrax is a serious disease that can affect both animals and humans. It is caused by
bacteria called Bacillus anthracis.
People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. In its
most common form, anthrax is a skin disease that causes skin ulcers and usually fever
and fatigue.
Up to 20% of these cases are fatal if untreated.When B. anthracis is inhaled, as when
used as a biological weapon, it is much more serious.
What are the symptoms of Anthrax Infection?
The first symptoms may include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. But within
several days these symptoms are followed by severe breathing problems, shock, and
often meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord covering).
Once symptoms appear, this form of anthrax is almost always fatal, despite treatment with
antibiotics.
Should We Worry About Anthrax?
In the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, US citizens were intentionally exposed to
anthrax. Men and women from Florida, Virginia, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York
and Connecticut contracted cutaneous and inhalational anthrax.
There were 7 confirmed and 4 “probable” cases of cutaneous anthrax; all survived. 11
people contracted inhalational anthrax. Of those 11 people, 5 died.
Congress and major media outlets were virtually shut down after being targeted with
anthrax. The anthrax outbreaks and subsequent scares and hoaxes caused panic.
Thousands of congressional staffers, mail handlers and media personnel needed
protection using antibiotics and vaccination. Delivering weaponized anthrax was as simple
as putting it in an envelope and dropping it in a mailbox.
The letter sent to Senator Leahy contained enough spores to kill many people. Spores
leaked out of envelopes and led to anthrax disease or death in 22 people.
If there is a risk for inhalational anthrax associated with exposure to cross-contaminated
mail, it is very low. In the aftermath of the Gulf War, defectors forced Iraq to reveal that it
had an extensive biological weapons program, including anthrax.
UNSCOM, the United Nations Special Commission, found evidence of anthrax-filled
weapons in Iraq. Although UNSCOM destroyed the Al Hakam production facility in Iraq,
which had been used to produce anthrax, many experts feel that Iraq could rebuild its
anthrax-producing capabilities easily.
UNSCOM discovered that Iraq conducted extensive aerosol dispersion tests using an
anthrax simulant. In 1992, Boris Yeltsin revealed that the former Soviet Union had a
biological weapons program that dwarfed Iraq’s by comparison.
Soviet expertise may be employed by potential adversaries. Defectors revealed that the
former Soviet Union had weaponized anthrax employed on missiles, bombs and artillery.
Defectors from the former Soviet Union stated that anthrax would have been used against
US forces in a war in Europe . Terrorist groups can also use anthrax as a biological
weapon.
The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo spent millions of dollars on the development of
biological weapons and actually attempted to release anthrax in Tokyo.
Evidence surfaced after the Sep 11 terror attacks that Osama bin Laden’s Al-Queda
organization attempted to develop anthrax as a biological weapon. Anthrax bacteria
produce spores that can be processed to become easily airborne.
Mail-sorting machinery can easily aerosolize anthrax in envelopes sent via regular
methods through the US Postal Service. Anthrax spores can be spread in the air by
missiles, rockets, artillery, aerial bombs and sprayers.
Anthrax can travel downwind for hundreds of miles. Anthrax spores remain dangerous for
decades.
During WW II the British experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island. 40 years later, the
island was still uninhabitable and had to be decontaminated.
Naturally occurring anthrax spores remain dormant in the soil for decades. Grazing
animals can ingest them and become infected with the disease.
Anthrax can be produced in large quantities with relatively basic technology. All of the
technology needed to produce anthrax is considered dual use--meaning it has legitimate
uses in the biological and pharmaceutical industries.
The technology is available on the open market with few controls to purchase. Any
country with basic healthcare or a basic pharmaceutical industry has the expertise to
produce anthrax.
http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/threat/topChoice.asp
Anthrax is a serious disease that can affect both animals and humans. It is caused by
bacteria called Bacillus anthracis.
People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. In its
most common form, anthrax is a skin disease that causes skin ulcers and usually fever
and fatigue.
Up to 20% of these cases are fatal if untreated.When B. anthracis is inhaled, as when
used as a biological weapon, it is much more serious.
What are the symptoms of Anthrax Infection?
The first symptoms may include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. But within
several days these symptoms are followed by severe breathing problems, shock, and
often meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord covering).
Once symptoms appear, this form of anthrax is almost always fatal, despite treatment with
antibiotics.
Should We Worry About Anthrax?
In the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, US citizens were intentionally exposed to
anthrax. Men and women from Florida, Virginia, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York
and Connecticut contracted cutaneous and inhalational anthrax.
There were 7 confirmed and 4 “probable” cases of cutaneous anthrax; all survived. 11
people contracted inhalational anthrax. Of those 11 people, 5 died.
Congress and major media outlets were virtually shut down after being targeted with
anthrax. The anthrax outbreaks and subsequent scares and hoaxes caused panic.
Thousands of congressional staffers, mail handlers and media personnel needed
protection using antibiotics and vaccination. Delivering weaponized anthrax was as simple
as putting it in an envelope and dropping it in a mailbox.
The letter sent to Senator Leahy contained enough spores to kill many people. Spores
leaked out of envelopes and led to anthrax disease or death in 22 people.
If there is a risk for inhalational anthrax associated with exposure to cross-contaminated
mail, it is very low. In the aftermath of the Gulf War, defectors forced Iraq to reveal that it
had an extensive biological weapons program, including anthrax.
UNSCOM, the United Nations Special Commission, found evidence of anthrax-filled
weapons in Iraq. Although UNSCOM destroyed the Al Hakam production facility in Iraq,
which had been used to produce anthrax, many experts feel that Iraq could rebuild its
anthrax-producing capabilities easily.
UNSCOM discovered that Iraq conducted extensive aerosol dispersion tests using an
anthrax simulant. In 1992, Boris Yeltsin revealed that the former Soviet Union had a
biological weapons program that dwarfed Iraq’s by comparison.
Soviet expertise may be employed by potential adversaries. Defectors revealed that the
former Soviet Union had weaponized anthrax employed on missiles, bombs and artillery.
Defectors from the former Soviet Union stated that anthrax would have been used against
US forces in a war in Europe . Terrorist groups can also use anthrax as a biological
weapon.
The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo spent millions of dollars on the development of
biological weapons and actually attempted to release anthrax in Tokyo.
Evidence surfaced after the Sep 11 terror attacks that Osama bin Laden’s Al-Queda
organization attempted to develop anthrax as a biological weapon. Anthrax bacteria
produce spores that can be processed to become easily airborne.
Mail-sorting machinery can easily aerosolize anthrax in envelopes sent via regular
methods through the US Postal Service. Anthrax spores can be spread in the air by
missiles, rockets, artillery, aerial bombs and sprayers.
Anthrax can travel downwind for hundreds of miles. Anthrax spores remain dangerous for
decades.
During WW II the British experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island. 40 years later, the
island was still uninhabitable and had to be decontaminated.
Naturally occurring anthrax spores remain dormant in the soil for decades. Grazing
animals can ingest them and become infected with the disease.
Anthrax can be produced in large quantities with relatively basic technology. All of the
technology needed to produce anthrax is considered dual use--meaning it has legitimate
uses in the biological and pharmaceutical industries.
The technology is available on the open market with few controls to purchase. Any
country with basic healthcare or a basic pharmaceutical industry has the expertise to
produce anthrax.
http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/threat/topChoice.asp
This publications contains the opinions and ideas
of its author(s). It is intended to provide helpful and
informative material on the subjects addressed. It is
written with the understanding that the author(s) is
(are) not engaged in rendering medical, health, or
any other kind of professional service(s). The
reader should consult his or her medical, health or
other competent professional before adopting any
of the suggestions. The author(s) specifically
disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or
risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a
consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and
application of any of the contents of this site.
of its author(s). It is intended to provide helpful and
informative material on the subjects addressed. It is
written with the understanding that the author(s) is
(are) not engaged in rendering medical, health, or
any other kind of professional service(s). The
reader should consult his or her medical, health or
other competent professional before adopting any
of the suggestions. The author(s) specifically
disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or
risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a
consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and
application of any of the contents of this site.
