Anthrax Case Puzzles Investigators - No Other Cases Found, Source Remains a Mystery

AP BREAKING ^ | Oct 6, 2001 | Amanda Riddle

[Dane]

Amazing that this article can raise the possible terrorist connection without mentioning that Steven's home is less than a mile away from an airfield were hijacker Atta rented a light plane on multiple occasions.

Just a hypothesis.

Maybe anthrax was released but it didn't work(as an effective terrorist "tool"). It looks like Mr. Stevens lived in a suburban area(I do not know the population figures, but it seems he did not live in Bum, you know where, Egypt).

It seems that 1 death out of 'targeted' area of 1,000 people(again I am estimating the population of the targeted area) is not an effective "tool" to terrorize people(a 0.1% effectiveness rate). That is not a reason to get complacent, but to breathe a sigh of relief and to be vigilant.

[TX Bluebonnet]

I think I've heard that as soon as symptoms show up, its too late. Therefore, you would already have to be on antibiotics at the time you come in contaact with the anthrax bacteria. Am I right? Anyone...anyone...

[Dog]

How long does it take for Anthrax to show up from the time of it being spread until a person falls ill??

[randog]

I'm going out on a limb here, but what they hey...

Stevens worked for the tabloid The Sun; perhaps he and some of his co-workers were trying to see how easy it would be to get ahold of anthrax. Ever since 9/11 the media have been tripping over each other trying to show the public just how unprotected we are in airports, from chemical/biological attacks, etc. Perhaps The Sun cooked up a scheme to acquire anthrax and write and expose and it backfired horribly on them.

Just a thought; flame on.........

[bjs1779]

Chicago tribune had an article on it today, it said up to 2 months.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Very likely the first biowar attacks will misfire (or did just misfire), just like the first attack on the WTC, in 1993. But these Islamic terrorists are persistent little buggers, as I'm sure you've noticed.

[FITZ]

Amazing that this article can raise the possible terrorist connection without mentioning that Steven's home is less than a mile away from an airfield were hijacker Atta rented a light plane on multiple occasions.

They don't want people to be scared or they might not keep flying and spending money like they're supposed to.

[Dog Gone]

Well, the good news is that the longer this goes on, the more likely it is to be an isolated incident. The coincidences are simply staggering, and it is entirely proper to assume that we've been attacked with anthrax.

All except for one thing--so far this unlucky soul is the only one who seems to have gotten it.

I understand that the incubation period can vary, and that we can't be sure yet. But any kind of attack would have gotten more than one person and even though somebody had to be the first to show symptoms, others would soon follow.

If we go another week or two without any more cases, I'd say it's highly likely that this is an incredible coincidence.

It seems hard to believe, but even the government couldn't cover up an anthrax outbreak.

[El Sordo]

first the authorities are going back 2 months-60 days- to track his movements. Much longer than most other offical estimates of exposure / incubation / symptoms time lines.

-The need to check within the scope of all possible strains of Antrax. Do do otherwise would be to risk missing the source.

The only other similat time line was with a russian biowarfare strain, not with any "natural" anthrax.

-Only those "Natural" strains that we know of. Diseases change, new strains arise.

Next, they keep swearing it's not communicable human to human, but his relatives are being given a prophylactic treatment of antibiotics.

-The precautionary principle. If they didn't attempt to protect the family and this does indeed turn out to be a new strain that is somehow communicable then the CDC would look mighty damn stupid and I'm sure there'd be a looooong line of Freepers condeming them for "ignoring the possibility".

Last is still this WHOPPER coincidence with being 10 miles from the mad jihaders hangout.

-This has merit, but is should not be overlooked that coincidences do happen. Sometimes they happen in a manner that we consider highly improbable.

[blam]

"By the time you get symptoms, the amount of toxin in your body has reached lethal levels. At that point, you can kill every bacteria in your body and you will still die."

Good overview. This is exactly what I read about it yesterday. It's the toxin that kills. You have to take antibotics before you get symptoms.

[MarMema]

I don't understand why no one thinks this was a warning shot. That is what I have thought since he first was announced as having it.

[Dane]

Very likely the first biowar attacks will misfire (or did just misfire), just like the first attack on the WTC, in 1993. But these Islamic terrorists are persistent little buggers, as I'm sure you've noticed.

No doubt. That is why we must be vigilant, and not do what the Clinton administration did and ignore the threat.

[MarMema]

"They go "lucky" in diagnosing this one since a lab tech had just finished CDC training on bio-terror weapons and recognized the Anthrax stuff."

We gram stain and culture all cerebrospinal fluids and most sputums. If anything we culture too much.

[MarMema]

"That is my point they had him on penicillin, note that they did not state what other antibiotics/treatments were used. Or did they ever? Something smells fishy."

Many of you misunderstood this entirely. The idea of the bug they cultured from this man being sensitive to penicillin is supposed to indicate that it was not genetically manipulated, and therefore less likely to be bioterrorism. One thinks that if you were to release a bioterroristic bug, you would first make it resistant to common antibiotics. Since this bug was not resistant, they are using that to help support the idea that it was not from a terrorist source.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think bin Laden believes in warning shots. And I think anthrax would be hard to give to only one person.

I have little doubt that he would spray the entire USA today if he could.

The only reservation I have is that he might be holding back on another big attack for the first bomb to fall. That would have some strategic terror value in (his mind) making us reconsider the wisdom of fighting him.

[Nate505]

Generally, only those who begin antibiotics BEFORE exhibiting symptoms will live. Of course, that raises the question of how the heck is a person to know they need treatment if there are no symptoms. The answer is, the don't.

That's why Anthrax sucks bigtime.

That's why sensors need to be developed for this stuff and need to be deployed ASAP....I believe they are working on them as we speak.

[Dane]

Thank you for the information in reply #34.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

And I thought I understood all of the Q & A's on anthrax.

I was under the impression that after exposure it is not too late.

They better get serious about stopping the mad men that wish to do this and quickly.

[Letitring]

I saw a loop on CNN. The CDC people were all over the car. They were actually removing air vents. :)