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April 16, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"The Germs of War"

Fortune (www.fortune.com) (04/14/03) P. 374; Hensrud, Donald D.

The threat of bioterrorism is real, and if the federal government is to be believed, specific threats of bioterrorist action come and go, but there is little that an individual can or should do to prepare for a terrorist attack, whether through chemical, biological, or nuclear means.  Front-line health professionals, however, are being taught about a large number of potential biological agents: how to spot them and deal with them, from headline-grabbing substances like anthrax and smallpox to less well-known illnesses like plague, botulism, and tularemia.  Most of the diseases can be treated after the fact, while smallpox vaccines are slated to be available to the public in the near term, though the likelihood of being the victim of such an attack is very small.  The best preparation for the general public is knowledge, including discussing the effects of such diseases, an individual's real risk of becoming a victim, creating a family communication system, and having a basic emergency kit available in case of a crisis.

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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.