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SMALL POX AND HALLOWEEN CANDY- A short primer on viral disease transmission
Dr. Brian Kopp (proud2bRC)

Posted on 10/21/2001 10:34:13 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM

A short primer on viral disease transmission. Many viral diseases are transmitted via fomites:

fomite

SYLLABICATION: fo·mite
PRONUNCIATION: fmt
NOUN: An inanimate object or substance that is capable of transmitting infectious organisms from one individual to another.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from New Latin fmits, pl. of Latin fmes, tinder, from fovre, to warm. See dhegwh- in Appendix I.

In other words, you touch something, get the virus on your hand, then touch you face, mouth, nose or other mucus membrane.

Candy wrappers would be a perfect fomite because the act of handling the candy wrapper occurs immediately before the contact with the mouth.

In other words, no need to inject anything.

Just a light dusting of smallpox virus in the form or a powder. If done correctly it would be undetectable.

And unlike anthrax, which requires thousands of huge bacterial spores be inhaled into the lungs, relatively few microscopic smallpox viruses would be required. And nasal exposure would be sufficient to cause full blown infection, whereas nasal exposure with anthrax is relatively harmless.

No trick or treating for my kids this year.

Candy man
News/Current Events
Source: snopes.com
Published: Oct 20 Author: Snopes.com
Posted on 10/20/01 6:26 PM Eastern by earaiak

I called the Hackensack location (because I grew sick of the false alarms and rumors) and this information is true. Guys be careful a notice just came to me from someone that works in Costco. 2 Arabic guys bought more than $35,000.00 dollars worth of candy, in Wayne $15,000.00 & in Hackensack $20,0000.00. After they left they found out their Costco i.d was fake, & they paid the whole thing cash. The F.B.I. was notified just be careful with your kids for trick o' treating on Halloween!!! i just thought u wanted to know that. DON"T LET THOSE KIDS GO OUT FOR HALLOWEEN!


No kneejerking allowed. So far it hasn't been unsubstantiated. Check out the snopes site for more info: The Candy Man



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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To: CheneyChick
Does this mean I have to give up M&M's?

LOL Snicker.

61 posted on 10/21/2001 12:29:00 PM PDT by VA Advogado
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Nothing like posting after making changes. Oh well, you knew what I meant :^)
62 posted on 10/21/2001 12:29:07 PM PDT by JustAmy
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To: Stefan Stackhouse
Tell me about it. My homeschooled son, who is 10, right now has symptoms right now that could be an ordinary viral bug, (I actually don't feel well myself, and I have an unusual purply rash on my face) But, all his symptoms are consistent with the early stages of smallpox.

While of course the chances of him having been exposed to smallpox virus is vanishingly small, it's still frightening to have a child come down with *anything* right now. If smallpox virus were used as a weapon, some child, somewhere, would have to be the first. I feel a fear no fever has ever inspired before.

I won't sleep easily again until my child can be vaccinated for smallpox.

63 posted on 10/21/2001 12:31:49 PM PDT by SarahW
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To: Father Wu
A friend of mine, his sister was dating an Arabic man, who I believe was in his twenties. The man disapeared a day or two before September 11th. He left the sister a note saying something along the lines of, "Don't fly on planes on September 11th and don't go out on October 31st." The note was turned into the FBI.

STOP THIS Father Wu member since October 19, 2001. This is a ridiculous email which has been circulating the internet for weeks. Why are you trying to pass this BS off as firsthand info?

Note to FReepers - there are some real losers posting on these type of threads - do be discerning in what you choose to believe out of these.

64 posted on 10/21/2001 12:32:54 PM PDT by Libertina
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To: Clinton's a rapist
We don't know the intent of the man who purchased the candy, either. This could just be a big scare, although it is very suspicious.
65 posted on 10/21/2001 12:33:55 PM PDT by Father Wu
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To: proud2bRC
Okay, so how does the logistics of this work? Infecting the candy wrappers is going to be hazardous work for the infectors, as is distributing the candy on Halloween night. Now, for your average martyr the idea of going out in a blaze of glory is quite appealing (and relatively painless). Dying in lingering agony from the affects of smallpox is something else entirely.
66 posted on 10/21/2001 12:36:24 PM PDT by Junior
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To: antivenom
"How about dusting handles of gasloine pumps, or "display" shoes in the malls...or how about BOOKS in a library...sheeesh SOME people are so frigging paranoid... "

You're ignoring that there have been several suspicious purchases of thousands of dollars of Halloween candy by middle eastern men. Suspicious enough that the FBI has some of these men in custody.

Giving children candy that's been infected by a disease that has a 14 day period of dormancy would mean that these kids would be back in school infecting others for two weeks before the first symptoms showed up.

Dunno if you have kids, but schools are like giant petrie dishes. Germs spread quickly. Further, kids have less developed immune systems in general, and since all of these kids were born after 1972, none have been vaccinated.

This would be a far more effective way of starting a plague in numerous localities than gas pump handles or library books.

Admittedly, this is speculative, but we know that we're under terrorist attack, and biological attack... We know there's more to come.

And let me remind you, the FBI is involved... this is not so obviously "paranoia" as you'd like to believe.

67 posted on 10/21/2001 12:36:45 PM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: Junior
"Infecting the candy wrappers is going to be hazardous work for the infectors, as is distributing the candy on Halloween night."

The perps could have been vaccinated, as part of the terrorsit bio-attack program.

They infect the candy, then sneak it back into stores. Unsuspecting people buy it and distribute it on Halloween.

68 posted on 10/21/2001 12:40:04 PM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: proud2bRC
Dr. Brian - thanks for posting this invaluable information. My sisters are in the health-care profession and I read medical information all the time. This makes a WHOLE LOT OF SENSE to me, and I am now doing my best to pass along this information, including the Bergen County, NJ case/arrests, to those I know in law enforcement, local media and local health care.
69 posted on 10/21/2001 12:40:26 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Campion
Thanks! If you have any links regarding the stability or lifespan of this nasty stuff I would really like to do some additional reading... I either like to be informed or I am just a masochist. Thanks
70 posted on 10/21/2001 12:40:47 PM PDT by No_Doll_i
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; Joe 6-pack
I hope these diaper wearing dodos know that if they try to infect MY grandkids, they're dead!
And they WON'T have benefit of the law!
71 posted on 10/21/2001 12:42:17 PM PDT by COB1
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To: proud2bRC
Smallpox as a Biological Weapon - Medical and Public Health Management

All this and more from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

This article substantiates the strong possibility of smallpox as a biological weapon. I'm here to tell you I am scared sh!tless at the information discussed here regarding the vaccine situation and lack of available vaccines, therein! Dr. Brian, I am going to post this as its own separate thread.

72 posted on 10/21/2001 12:48:43 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Please add us to your PING list!

This thread is worth a continuing BUMP.

We'd like to be pinged for threads with truly heads-up DANGER AHEAD news, and any threads which give practical lists and tips for preparation, preparing to meet and overcome these challenges.

Thanks for the Pings.

And thanks to the good Doctor for the info.

Cascadians

73 posted on 10/21/2001 12:53:03 PM PDT by Cascadians
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To: CheneyChick
"Does this mean I have to give up M&M's?"

OMG, do you realize what would happen if you did?
It would be the end of civilization as we know it. hehehe

PS I'll volunteer to sample them for you 1st.
74 posted on 10/21/2001 12:54:59 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: Cascadians
"Please add us to your PING list!"

You have been added!
75 posted on 10/21/2001 12:57:59 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: G.Mason
It's fine to have a "relative" concern about your loved ones and your own safety but it seems to be getting ludicrous.
You and those that are trembling with fear here, need to lighten up.

Oh, fer cryin' out loud! You guys who can't deal with a little forewarning need to quit reading these threads!

Most likely this is some kind of diversion, but it doesn't hurt to be aware. Since when is discussing something "trembling with fear?"

76 posted on 10/21/2001 1:02:00 PM PDT by Lion's Cub
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To: COB1
"I hope these diaper wearing dodos know that if they try to infect MY grandkids, they're dead! And they WON'T have benefit of the law!"

Infect your Grandkids? From here on out, I'm going to hold these tali-whackers personally responsible for anything that goes wrong in my life. If my dog's food goes stale, it's their fault. Any threat to me or mine will result in a confrontation with Ms. Eagle, and seven of her 325 grain eggs.

77 posted on 10/21/2001 1:02:29 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: VA Advogado
"Put me on your list"

You have been added and thanks for the kind words.
78 posted on 10/21/2001 1:03:13 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: proud2bRC
Revenge for the "one million Iraqi children" bin Laden keeps blabbing on about?
79 posted on 10/21/2001 1:06:22 PM PDT by Clinton's a rapist
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To: Bommer
Coming Soon... http://www.madblast.com/oska/humor_bin.swf
80 posted on 10/21/2001 1:07:52 PM PDT by Lucas1
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