Maybe it has something to do with the native homegrown scenery--all indiginous to Texas: (just a sample--President George W. Bush, Governor Rick Perry, George Strait)
Posted on 01/15/2003 10:05:02 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Maybe it has something to do with the native homegrown scenery--all indiginous to Texas: (just a sample--President George W. Bush, Governor Rick Perry, George Strait)
All of these things are scarey, but they follow-up with "just take antibiotics".
It isn't THAT easy to call up a Doctor and get an antiobiotic these days.
I'm not saying we don't need to hear this news today, but we are our worst enemy when it comes to scaring people.
Actually, Fox just brought this discrepancy to viewers' attention. They ran a tape from a conference where one official said it might be possible and then noted that the federal official they had talked to said it couldn't be. So I guess we'll have to wait for further clarification.
Here in New Mexico, we have a dozen or so cases of naturally occuring cases of bubonic plague each year. Most of the time it is found in wild animals, sometimes in cats or dogs, and once in awhile in a human being.
Bubonic plague, hantavirus, we have it all!
It is a fragile ecosystem out there and we are all related you know?
The bubonic plague was the most commonly seen form of the Black Death. The mortality rate was 30-75%. The symptoms were enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes (around arm pits, neck and groin). The term 'bubonic' refers to the characteristic bubo or enlarged lymphatic gland. Victims were subject to headaches, nausea, aching joints, fever of 101-105 degrees, vomiting, and a general feeling of illness. Symptoms took from 1-7 days to appear.
FOX just said in TEN minutes they are having a Press Announcement from Texas Tech University...
I just checked the DMN again and they have updated their story...
01/15/2003
LUBBOCK - Vials containing samples of lethal bubonic plague have disappeared from Texas Tech University, and the FBI was investigating, authorities said Wednesday.
A statement from the university said vials of bubonic plague, being used to improve treatment of plague victims, were reported missing to campus police on Tuesday.
Thirty-five vials were believed missing from the school's Health Sciences Center, said Frank Morrison, a Lubbock city councilman, who told CNN he was briefed by emergency officials. There was no indication that a theft has occurred, Mr. Morrison said.
 A blood smear illustrates the characteristic 'safety pin' appearance of plague bacteria. (CDC) |
"I do not believe it is currently a weapons grade but it can be converted into a weapons grade," Mr. Morrison said.
City officials planned a news conference at 2 p.m. CST.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Web site, quoting unidentified law enforcement sources, said the vials turned up missing several days earlier but wasn't reported to police until Tuesday. Sixty investigators from various converged on the medical school campus, the newspaper said.
The school said the research was being conducted by Dr. Thomas Butler, chief of its infection disease division, who has been studying the plague for more than 25 years. It said there was no reason to believe the vials were stolen but officials thought it was "prudent" to get law enforcement involved because of current concerns about bioterrorism.
In Washington, FBI officials confirmed that they were contacted Tuesday night and dispatched agents to Lubbock to assist local authorities.
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White House officials have been briefed on the plague reports, said spokesman Ari Fleischer. He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also was investigating.
"This is information that is just coming in to the White House and has been for just a short period of time," Mr. Fleischer said. "I'm not in a position to give you any additional information at this time."
He said further details would come from Texas Tech and from the FBI.
Bubonic plague is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by a bacterium named Yersinia pestis. People usually get it from being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an infected animal.
The disease can be treated with antibiotics. Health officials say 10 to 20 people in the United States contract plague each year. About one in seven U.S. cases is fatal.
Plague outbreaks have killed about 200 million people in the past 1,500 years. The most infamous, Europe's Black Death, started in 1347, killing 25 million people in Europe and 13 million in the Middle East and China within five years.
Plague -- along with anthrax, smallpox and a handful of other deadly agents -- is on a short watch list distributed by the federal government, which wants to make sure doctors and hospitals recognize a bioterror attack quickly.
But plague's symptoms can be difficult to spot. The disease is characterized by swelling, weakness and fever, symptoms that can signal anything from flu to West Nile virus.
Bubonic plague is not contagious. But left untreated, it can transform into pneumonic plague, a more dangerous disease that can be spread from person to person.
The septicemic plague was the most rare form of all. The mortality was close to 100% (even today there is no treatment). Symptoms were a high fever and skin turning deep shades of purple due to DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation). According to Dr. Matt Luther, Vanderbilt University Medical Center "The plague often caused DIC in severe forms, and DIC can be fatal. The picture above demonstrates what DIC can look like. In its most deadly form DIC can cause a victims skin to turn dark purple. The black death got its name from the deep purple, almost black discoloration." Victims usually died the same day symptoms appeared. In some cities, as many as 800 people died every day.
1. They don't know IF the vials were even stolen.
They don't know where they are?
They don't know what the vials contain?
They have absolutely nothing to be reporting to get people upset at this point and cause panic in the community.
This kind of "breaking news" is getting out of control.
sw
Yuck!!!! I wonder if she would like to come pump out my septic tank. My kids were all sick last month.
And yes, I know NPR is nonsense. I just find most of their serious stuff really funny.
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