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Potentially Deadly Bacteria Discovered in Canadian, Texas - can cause flu like symptoms/death
kamr ^

Posted on 08/01/2002 7:43:55 PM PDT by chance33_98


Potentially Deadly Bacteria Discovered in Canadian 
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The bacteria is called Tularemia -- one of the most infectious bacteria known to exist. "This is extremely rare," said Dr. Michael Moloney, a phiysician at the Hemphill County Clinic in Canadian.

More than 15 rabbits and several squirrels have been found dead over the past few months in a wildlife preserve outside of of town. After a state wildlife official discovered the dead animals, the Texas Department of Health office in Canyon sent them away for tests at the Centers for Disease Control office in Colorado, where they tested positive for the naturally-occurring bacteria.

"It only tends to happen when the population of those rodents and rabbits become a little large and in fact its a mechanism in nature to kind of get down the number of these creatures," Moloney said.

The bacteria can be transmitted to humans. If left untreated, it could cause flu-like symptoms and, eventually, death. "The only risk is if they are holding ill or dead squirrels, rabbits, rodents. So really, if you can avoid those creatures, you're not going to get the disease," Moloney said.

Nevertheless, the state's health department has notified the medical community in Canadian about the appearance of the bacteria. "The physicians in the area are aware that if someone comes in with a flu-like illness and glandular-type disease that they need to keep this in mind, but the risk is not very high. It's very, very low," Moloney said.

The risk is so low, that the bacteria was removed from the U.S. list of reported diseases back in 1990. However, it is now back on that list, because it's been identified as a potential biological weapon. The fear is that terrorists could manufacture the bacteria in a lab and spray it over a city.

It only takes ten microscopic spores of the bacteria for someone to become infected. Doctors recommend using an insect repellant when outdoors, especially in wooded areas. That's where ticks tend to be found, and they can transmit the disease. People should also avoid touching any dead animals they may find out there because there is no way of telling if they have the bacteria unless that animal is tested for it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Texas
KEYWORDS:
Paging Stephen King...
1 posted on 08/01/2002 7:43:55 PM PDT by chance33_98
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To: chance33_98
I've been keeping updated on the potential of Tularemia as A Biological Weapon...

Might be worth keeping an eye on at this point folks, just as an FYI.
2 posted on 08/01/2002 7:51:28 PM PDT by Sweet_Sunflower29
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To: chance33_98
Tuleremia was been around for mega-years.

As my pop use to say "Never shoot a slow rabbit".
3 posted on 08/01/2002 8:02:09 PM PDT by lizma
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To: chance33_98; snopercod
See: Tularemia as a biological weapon, JAMA, Vol. 285 No. 21, June 6, 2001.
4 posted on 08/01/2002 8:03:23 PM PDT by First_Salute
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To: Sweet_Sunflower29
Nice catch 'n a bump ... 's what I get for staying there 'n reading the whole thing.
5 posted on 08/01/2002 8:04:16 PM PDT by First_Salute
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To: First_Salute
Heehee...
6 posted on 08/01/2002 8:06:15 PM PDT by Sweet_Sunflower29
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To: chance33_98
Additional 'FYI' stuff on Tularemia available Here
7 posted on 08/01/2002 8:10:06 PM PDT by Sweet_Sunflower29
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To: Mitchell
Ping. You are better able to judge if this story is significant, but if so maybe ping the others.
8 posted on 08/01/2002 8:10:34 PM PDT by BlackVeil
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To: Sweet_Sunflower29
Thanks for the link - not that it will make me sleep any better mind you. As soon as I saw the story my first thought was 'Can this be used as a bio weapon?'...
9 posted on 08/01/2002 8:37:42 PM PDT by chance33_98
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To: chance33_98
I'm glad to be here roasting in the desert! LOL
10 posted on 08/01/2002 9:01:15 PM PDT by brat
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To: BlackVeil
Thanks for the ping.

I believe this to be a natural outbreak, notwithstanding the fact that tularemia has been discussed as a possible biological weapon. I can't imagine that a WMD would be used on a small town in Texas, far from any big city.

11 posted on 08/01/2002 10:02:39 PM PDT by Mitchell
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To: chance33_98
One of the most infectious bacteria known to exist. This is extremely rare.

If it's one of the most infectious bacteria known, how on earth can it be rare?

12 posted on 08/01/2002 10:06:17 PM PDT by absinthe
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To: absinthe
Semantics a'la Klintoon. Probably infectious but short lived so not found very often (i.e. kills itself out). Hey, I am just guessing :) I am a computer geek and the only biology I know is how to reproduce!
13 posted on 08/01/2002 11:38:31 PM PDT by chance33_98
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To: chance33_98
We had a really weird spate of sickness of 15 people here in Phoenix, with one death, that of a 15 year old. All were at a local golf course (playing) over the course of a weekend, and all were violently ill. They still cannot find the cause of death of the 15 y.o. Toxicology reports came up negative.
14 posted on 08/01/2002 11:57:42 PM PDT by kstewskis
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To: kstewskis
Personally I think the next big attack has a better chance at coming from within. Some dumb a$$ bio student at UC bersekley deciding to play typhoid harry or someting. Or 'testing' something new they made. While Al Queerda might have a few bombers doing something they don't seem to have the training, knowledge, and access (yet) to some of the things the wackos in our own country do.
15 posted on 08/02/2002 12:06:03 AM PDT by chance33_98
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To: Sweet_Sunflower29
This is why rabbit hunting season is not in warm weather.
16 posted on 08/02/2002 12:09:56 AM PDT by paix
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To: chance33_98
Oh that's just great.I am sitting here with flu like conditions and you gotta tell me about this,and all this time I was worried about west nile virus.
17 posted on 08/02/2002 12:13:54 AM PDT by eastforker
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To: eastforker
Well, get some chicken soup and lay on the couch under a warm blanket and watch a movie (might I suggest, 'The Stand'?)
18 posted on 08/02/2002 12:17:24 AM PDT by chance33_98
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To: chance33_98
Bump for my wife...

Semper Fi!
19 posted on 08/02/2002 6:31:38 AM PDT by dd5339
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