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Sars Panic 'Pleases Terrorists'
BBC ^ | 04-26-03

Posted on 04/26/2003 9:02:34 AM PDT by Brian S

The panic caused by the deadly Sars virus has "gladdened the hearts" of terrorists, according to a British medical expert.

Consultant heamatologist Frank Boulton believes the flu-like virus has already exceeded the anticipated effects of any bio-weapon, particularly because of its devastating economic impact.

"There is a distinct possibility of some carrier status for some weeks or even months afterwards," he told a central London bioterrorism conference, organised by UK charity Medact.

Mr Boulton, of the National Blood Service and Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, criticised the way in which the Chinese authorities had handled the crisis.

You are unlikely to get it on an aircraft unless you are sitting right next to a person with Sars
Frank Boulton, consultant haematologist

"I would suspect that had Sars occurred in the US we would actually be much more ahead than we are, and the Chinese are highly embarrassed by the slowness of their response."

He said the outbreak meant the National Blood Service had changed its guidelines for donors.

The service would refuse blood from donors who had visited Hong Kong in recent weeks, he said.

But he added: "It doesn't seem to be spread by air-conditioning so you are unlikely to get it on an aircraft unless you are sitting right next to a person with Sars."

Kitchen-table terrorism

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association, told the conference that "clusters of patients who have a disease you don't normally see" could be the first sign of a bio-terrorist attack.

No healthcare system could deal with the "thousands of extra patients needing advanced life support in the event of a bio-terrorist attack", she told delegates.

Health department emergency planning and co-ordination unit head Dr Bruce Court said anthrax, smallpox and the plague were just a few of "quite a large number" of deadly natural biological agents terrorists could release.

And he warned "kitchen-table terrorism" could see the growth of fatal toxins - including ricin, which is extracted from castor beans.

Dr Court called for an "integrated operational response" from the newly-formed Health Protection Agency, local authorities, police, fire and other organisations.

Emergency equipment, antibiotics, vaccines and essentials, including blankets, were already stockpiled across the country, he told delegates.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: sars
Even thought this article didn't address, I've been concerned about a terrorist cell sending in a handful of 'agenets' to become infected with sars, then sending them on a worldwide tour.

Why bother with anthrax, ricin, etc. when it appears that nature has provided a nasty little weapon.

Cost of such an operation would be minimal. Hope our Homeland Security apparatus is considering this possibility.

1 posted on 04/26/2003 9:02:34 AM PDT by Brian S
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To: Brian S
"Hope our Homeland Security apparatus is considering this possibility."

Nah. That would requiring closing the border with Mexico and that would cost votes.

2 posted on 04/26/2003 9:05:25 AM PDT by blam
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To: Brian S
SARS (When I was a kid, it was called the Hong Kong flu epidemic)doesn't have any bias. How would non-infected terrorists immune themselves ?
3 posted on 04/26/2003 9:24:30 AM PDT by stylin19a (2 wrongs don't make a right.....but 3 rights make a left)
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To: Brian S; Betty Jo; Enemy Of The State; Judith Anne; Mother Abigail; CathyRyan; per loin; ...
Betty Jo has been thinking about such a possibility.
4 posted on 04/26/2003 9:27:57 AM PDT by aristeides
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To: Brian S
SARS may significantly hurt the US in the long run. This disease is more pervasive in countries that do not promote good hygine. India and China are the two main countries corporate America is outsourcing to. I would hope they think twice about the economic impact of outsourcing their labor to countries that are vulnerable to these types of outbreaks.

Where there is poverty and cheap labor there is also the risk of an epidemic wiping out your ability to produce goods and services.

5 posted on 04/26/2003 9:36:27 AM PDT by RockyMtnMan
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To: stylin19a
How would non-infected terrorists immune themselves ?

They couldn't but their chance of survival is much better than that of a suicide bomber. Would be much more easy to find willing volunteers it would seem with a 94% chance of recovery.

6 posted on 04/26/2003 9:50:39 AM PDT by Brian S
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To: aristeides
Thanks for the SARS pings. How about putting them in one on-going thread? That way the numerous pings wont cloud others from monitoring their own comments?

Im interested in staying up on the latest SARS reports, I just think it's a bit much to have so many pings since there are endless reports coming forth.

As for betty jo, she is off her rocker if she really thinks this was an act of bio-terrorism. Dare I say this post would only "ag" her on.

If you have ever spent any time in China, you would realise why this new virus is no surprise. China has a history of such viruses springing forth due to the close proximity in which animals (mainly birds) and humans live.

Best Regards!
EOTS
7 posted on 04/26/2003 11:39:31 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State (Kim Jong makes me 'ill')
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To: Brian S
MY LYING $10.00 CALUCATOR

As per your request, I do not shout anymore.

Yes I make up everything which I post with my little $10.00 calculator.

I am sure that the CDC, WHO or the Government is beyond such things. I list below what I made up with my calculator.

It has been reported, and it seems reasonable to me, that there are 50,000 deaths each year in the USA due to Influenza (Pneumonia). If this is the case then this follows by mathematics:

1. I assume that the world’s population is 6.0 billion (probably 6.4 billion, but just increase these numbers by 6.67% if you like).
2. If the world’s population is 6.0 billion, and if the USA has a population of 280 million, than the world has a population 21.429 times larger than the USA.
3. If the 50,000 figure for the USA is correct then:
4. Daily Cases And Deaths USA (Assuming a 5% mortality rate):

Daily: Cases – 2739.720 and Deaths – 136.986
Period 30 Days: Cases – 82,191.600 and Deaths – 2,739.720
Annual: Cases – 999,997.800 and Deaths – 49,999.90 (Rounding Again)

5. Daily Cases And Deaths World ( Assuming a 5% mortality rate). Probably need to increase these numbers by a factor of at least by 2 to 5 since the rest of the world has almost no health system:

Daily: Cases – 58,709.460 and Deaths – 2,935.473
Period 30 Days: Cases 246,574.800 and Deaths - 88,064.190
Annual: Cases – 21,428,952.900 and Deaths – 1,071,477.742

6. If as you suggest that the death rate is 0.01% and not the 5% which I choose as representative, then of course the number of deaths remains the same but the number of cases increases by a factor of 500. Therefore, these would be the numbers which my $10.00 calculator reveals for the Cases for the USA and the World:

Daily Cases: USA – 1,369.860.000 World – 29, 354,730.000
Period 30 Days: USA – 41,095,800.000 World – 123,287,400.000
Annual: USA 499,998.900 World – 10,714.476,450.000

7. There is one unfortunate result if I accept your number of a 0.01% death rate. On an annual basis it would exceed the USA and World population by a factor of 1.785. That’s 78.5% more than the entire population of the USA and the World. Since I have not gotten SARS or Pneumonia recently, a lot of people are in “Deep Do-Do” if you are correct. In fact they can look forward to getting sick with this “stuff” a number of times, if my calculator is correct.

8. My suggestion to you all is to see how long you all can hold you breath.

9. Cheer-e-oh, you all.

8 posted on 04/26/2003 12:07:05 PM PDT by ido_now
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To: Enemy Of The State; aristeides; CathyRyan; Judith Anne
Yes, I'm off my rocker, as you put it.

Years ago, wealthy Islamic Arabs embedded themselves, through agents, and stocks and ownership in the bio,healthcare,and pharmaceutical industries all over the world including America.

I call this the Bin Laden Medical Matrix.

Or it could be called the Terrorist WMD Medical Conspiracy.

When terrorists owned/own companies that were early into "Antisense",

And they owned/own healthcare delivery companies that have government contracts to deliver healthcare and drugs to defense forces,

Because these terrorits are sneaky,brilliant,and dedicated,as shown in WTC,

It is my opinion that these Middle Eastern , mostly Islamic
murderers have brought SARS down upon us.

Bin Laden has declared war on America and all those who help her.

SARS is a WMD.

Shock and Awe!
9 posted on 04/26/2003 1:07:25 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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