SMALL POX AND HALLOWEEN CANDY- A short primer on viral disease transmission

Dr. Brian Kopp (proud2bRC)

[VA Advogado]

Does this mean I have to give up M&M's?

LOL Snicker.

[JustAmy]

Nothing like posting after making changes. Oh well, you knew what I meant :^)

[SarahW]

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.

[Libertina]

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.

[Father Wu]

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.

[Junior]

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.

[Sabertooth]

"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.

[Sabertooth]

"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.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

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.

[No_Doll_i]

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

[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!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

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.

[Cascadians]

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

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"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.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Please add us to your PING list!"

You have been added!

[Lion's Cub]

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?"

[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!"

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.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Put me on your list"

You have been added and thanks for the kind words.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Revenge for the "one million Iraqi children" bin Laden keeps blabbing on about?

[Lucas1]

Coming Soon... http://www.madblast.com/oska/humor_bin.swf