Biological Attack: Don't Panic, know the facts - Safety Shorts - Brief Article

Combat Edge, Dec, 2001 by Eric Grill

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Officials from the 59th Medical Wing want people to know that despite recent accounts of anthrax cases being reported since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there is no reason to panic.

While people know how to react to terrorists' bombs, people do not know how to deal with diseases, said Maj. Caroline De Witt, acting chief of infectious diseases for the 59th MDW at Wilford Hall Medical Center.

"We are here to reassure people that many of these diseases are treatable if caught early," De Witt said. "The military has been studying possible agents of bioterrorism for a very longtime, and we've had years of training to prepare for events like a biological attack."

Education is the key to abating some of the fears that people may have about infectious diseases, De Witt said.

People have been going to military surplus stores and buying gas masks because of that fear, but De Witt said biological agents like anthrax have inoculation periods, and "gas masks won't apply."

While there is a nationwide concern about some sort of biological attack by terrorists, De Witt said that both civilian and military medical officials are ready, and the nation has spent years developing a national pharmaceutical stockpile.

Any of the military services have detailed readiness plans and are able to augment public readiness officials if needed, De Witt said.

Some of the diseases medical officials are watching for include anthrax, smallpox and plague, De Witt said. Smallpox was eradicated worldwide and routine vaccination was stopped around 1980. Therefore, many people remain susceptible to the disease.

Anthrax is produced by the bacteria "Bacillus anthracis." A tough protective coat allows the bacteria to survive for decades as spores.

Anthrax is dangerous because it is highly lethal if not caught in time. It is one of the easiest biological agents to manufacture and relatively easy to develop as a weapon. Anthrax spores, while extremely difficult to aerosolize as a weapon, can be easily spread over a large area and easily stored.

The disease also has an incubation period of 1 to 6 days between exposure and symptoms, officials said.

Because of this, De Witt said, "There is reason for a heightened sense of alert, but be reassured hat panic is not needed. Very few (biological) agents can be transferred human-to-human, and many of the diseases are benign and can be treated easily, if caught any"

Anyone who suspects that they have co e into contact with a suspicious substance should re ort it to authorities immediately, De Witt said. The earlier it is reported the better chances of determining what that substance is.

De Witt said that these people should not take any medicines without seeking medical attention first.

"Professionals doing the field tests will let a person know whether they've been exposed or not," she said.

"Field tests can be done quickly and easily to determine if a person was exposed to a biological agent," De Witt said. But, it takes about 24 to 48 hour to confirm what that biological agent is."

While it sounds like a good idea to have stockpile of medicines in a persons' medicine cabinet, De Witt said she advises against it. These medicines have side effects that can be dangerous if not taken properly; taken by a child; or taken by someone who is pregnant.

For more information about anthrax, contact local medical professionals, or go online to the Department of Defense anthrax web site.