In 1979, the World Health Organization declared the deadly
smallpox virus eradicated. Seven years earlier, in 1972, the
United States stopped mass vaccinations, saying that the cure
was more dangerous than any remnant smallpox virus. But smallpox
still exists, in labs. There are two official repositories: the
CDC, in Atlanta, and the Vektor Institute, in Russia. And there
are a few unofficial repositories, according to intelligence
reports: in North Korea, Iraq, Russia and France. Because of the
deadliness of the disease - smallpox kills one third of those it
infects - and because of the ease of its contagion - through the
air - and because of the nature of those who possess smallpox -
the Bush administration is wrestling with whether to mass
vaccinate the public. The problem is that the cure can kill,
too: up to 500 deaths, should all U.S. citizens be vaccinated,
is the estimate. The existing vaccine, called Dryvax, is
especially dangerous to those with weaker immune systems:
diabetics, organ transplant recipients, AIDS and chemotherapy
patients, the elderly, small children. And some develop side
effects: acute skin lesions, blindness, brain inflammation. Even
those old enough to have been vaccinated are probably still at
risk since experts believe the vaccine loses its effectiveness
over time. Definitely at risk is the U.S. military, most under
age 30. A new and safer vaccine, ACAM-1000, may be available
next year.
John McLaughlin
There should not be mandatory vaccination. The threat of an
attack is exaggerated. The threat of the attack is more
exaggerated, in fact, than the threat of deleterious effects
from the vaccine itself. We'd be better advised to spend our
money on driver education and enforcing the laws.
Thanks again to John M. for putting these issues into perspective.
No, there is not a global biological warfare threat from Iraq even
though they are rumoured to have a small pox virus.
Notice that North Korea came out bragging of a nuclear bomb to
impress us that they were above the concern of Iraq, yet no mention
of their now reported unofficial store of small pox virus suggesting
it is not in the weapon catagory.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:12 AM
College Station, TX
Interesting that France denies TMG report that France has an
unofficial store of the Small pox virus.
Inquiring minds want to know, why deny it and is the assertion
really true.
This type of denial about weapons on hand is the type of thing we
threatened to nuke Iraq over.
Why is France assuming a posture that might call for inspections and
would we ever subject France to anything like we impose on Iraq?
Is France just too big to be questioned, like the USA, while we
strip search a smaller nation like Iraq?
Chris
Mon Nov 25 12:34 AM
MA I don't believe France has ever signed a surrender agreement
that it will disarm and allow weapons inspecters unfettered access,
so it is probably safe.
If France ever does invade a neighbour State and start killing
people with WMD and sponsoring terrorists that just might change.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:36 AM
College Station, TX
Probably no chance of France being questioned for invading with WMD
since after all there has never been any questioning of the USA for
that type of repeated behaviour.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:47 AM
College Station, TX
Tony Blankley commented that POTUS & Putin are on good terms.
So why does Russia have an official store of Small Pox in Western
Siberia and another unofficial store as reported on TMG?
Is the unoffical inventory the one that is for sale to our enemies?
Why are we not pressuring the UN for a resolution for inspectors to
verify and report on this Russian repository of biological weapons
ingredients?
JBorde
Mon Nov 25 1:36 AM
Louisville, KY Olshev: Chirac and Putin would be equally insane to ever
consider unleashing their small amounts of smallpox anywhere,
anytime. The problem lies squarely where it usually does - with the
paranoia/misplaced-reactionary policies of Hussein himself; almost
no one else would ever consider using such a tactic.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 2:22 AM
College Station, TX
JBorde, I agree with you and JohnM. that this problem is writ larger
than practically likely.
However, is Saddam the wild card in this?
Our govt is the one who is blowing this issue out of proportion and
while we accuse Saddam of using the pox as a threat or scare, we are
the ones using it to scare up support for war in our own country.
Iraq could be capapble of anything, but we have proven capable of
spreading depleted uranium around Iraq and then sending our own
troops into it (not to mention Agent Orange and other past
biological sins of the USA).
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 2:52 AM
College Station, TX
Clift framed this issue the best:
If POTUS goes into Iraq and "forces a doomsday scenerio" then
vaccinations
Except that if this doomsday scenerio is forced, I am not sure
caccinations are what I am going to want.
I would say the next flight out of here, but I think the air might
be the wrong place to be.
Head for the border at least.
Could POTUS get re-elected on a platform of needing to finish the
war he started?
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 3:04 AM
College Station, TX
One in a million die from this thing.
That says nothing of the blindness and other side effects.
Does POTUS have the political capital to order the deaths of 300
Americans and countless more personal tragedies at home?
That could really hurt the re-election bid.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:01 PM
College Station, TX
JohnM. is totally on target with this quote which cleverly compares
the danger of Iraq to the danger of driving cars.
The real Weapons of Mass Destruction are PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAYS!
Driving is really really dangerous to other citizens in terms of
deaths and injuries plus the danger to our society.
I totally agree with JohnM. that it is time to pour out this tempest
in a teapot Iraq that has outlived its political usefullness and
look to domestic problems that are truly a danger to our safety, the
environment and American society.
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.
In 1979, the World Health Organization declared the deadly
smallpox virus eradicated. Seven years earlier, in 1972, the
United States stopped mass vaccinations, saying that the cure
was more dangerous than any remnant smallpox virus. But smallpox
still exists, in labs. There are two official repositories: the
CDC, in Atlanta, and the Vektor Institute, in Russia. And there
are a few unofficial repositories, according to intelligence
reports: in North Korea, Iraq, Russia and France. Because of the
deadliness of the disease - smallpox kills one third of those it
infects - and because of the ease of its contagion - through the
air - and because of the nature of those who possess smallpox -
the Bush administration is wrestling with whether to mass
vaccinate the public. The problem is that the cure can kill,
too: up to 500 deaths, should all U.S. citizens be vaccinated,
is the estimate. The existing vaccine, called Dryvax, is
especially dangerous to those with weaker immune systems:
diabetics, organ transplant recipients, AIDS and chemotherapy
patients, the elderly, small children. And some develop side
effects: acute skin lesions, blindness, brain inflammation. Even
those old enough to have been vaccinated are probably still at
risk since experts believe the vaccine loses its effectiveness
over time. Definitely at risk is the U.S. military, most under
age 30. A new and safer vaccine, ACAM-1000, may be available
next year.
John McLaughlin
There should not be mandatory vaccination. The threat of an
attack is exaggerated. The threat of the attack is more
exaggerated, in fact, than the threat of deleterious effects
from the vaccine itself. We'd be better advised to spend our
money on driver education and enforcing the laws.
Thanks again to John M. for putting these issues into perspective.
No, there is not a global biological warfare threat from Iraq even
though they are rumoured to have a small pox virus.
Notice that North Korea came out bragging of a nuclear bomb to
impress us that they were above the concern of Iraq, yet no mention
of their now reported unofficial store of small pox virus suggesting
it is not in the weapon catagory.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:12 AM
College Station, TX
Interesting that France denies TMG report that France has an
unofficial store of the Small pox virus.
Inquiring minds want to know, why deny it and is the assertion
really true.
This type of denial about weapons on hand is the type of thing we
threatened to nuke Iraq over.
Why is France assuming a posture that might call for inspections and
would we ever subject France to anything like we impose on Iraq?
Is France just too big to be questioned, like the USA, while we
strip search a smaller nation like Iraq?
Chris
Mon Nov 25 12:34 AM
MA I don't believe France has ever signed a surrender agreement
that it will disarm and allow weapons inspecters unfettered access,
so it is probably safe.
If France ever does invade a neighbour State and start killing
people with WMD and sponsoring terrorists that just might change.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:36 AM
College Station, TX
Probably no chance of France being questioned for invading with WMD
since after all there has never been any questioning of the USA for
that type of repeated behaviour.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:47 AM
College Station, TX
Tony Blankley commented that POTUS & Putin are on good terms.
So why does Russia have an official store of Small Pox in Western
Siberia and another unofficial store as reported on TMG?
Is the unoffical inventory the one that is for sale to our enemies?
Why are we not pressuring the UN for a resolution for inspectors to
verify and report on this Russian repository of biological weapons
ingredients?
JBorde
Mon Nov 25 1:36 AM
Louisville, KY Olshev: Chirac and Putin would be equally insane to ever
consider unleashing their small amounts of smallpox anywhere,
anytime. The problem lies squarely where it usually does - with the
paranoia/misplaced-reactionary policies of Hussein himself; almost
no one else would ever consider using such a tactic.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 2:22 AM
College Station, TX
JBorde, I agree with you and JohnM. that this problem is writ larger
than practically likely.
However, is Saddam the wild card in this?
Our govt is the one who is blowing this issue out of proportion and
while we accuse Saddam of using the pox as a threat or scare, we are
the ones using it to scare up support for war in our own country.
Iraq could be capapble of anything, but we have proven capable of
spreading depleted uranium around Iraq and then sending our own
troops into it (not to mention Agent Orange and other past
biological sins of the USA).
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 2:52 AM
College Station, TX
Clift framed this issue the best:
If POTUS goes into Iraq and "forces a doomsday scenerio" then
vaccinations
Except that if this doomsday scenerio is forced, I am not sure
caccinations are what I am going to want.
I would say the next flight out of here, but I think the air might
be the wrong place to be.
Head for the border at least.
Could POTUS get re-elected on a platform of needing to finish the
war he started?
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 3:04 AM
College Station, TX
One in a million die from this thing.
That says nothing of the blindness and other side effects.
Does POTUS have the political capital to order the deaths of 300
Americans and countless more personal tragedies at home?
That could really hurt the re-election bid.
Olshewsky
Mon Nov 25 12:01 PM
College Station, TX
JohnM. is totally on target with this quote which cleverly compares
the danger of Iraq to the danger of driving cars.
The real Weapons of Mass Destruction are PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAYS!
Driving is really really dangerous to other citizens in terms of
deaths and injuries plus the danger to our society.
I totally agree with JohnM. that it is time to pour out this tempest
in a teapot Iraq that has outlived its political usefullness and
look to domestic problems that are truly a danger to our safety, the
environment and American society.
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.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"
