Time: Tue Dec 16 16:56:10 1997 To: From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: Military fights anthrax threat (fwd) Cc: Bcc: sls, friends References: <snip> > >>Subject: Military fights anthrax threat >> >>I sure in hell wouldn't let these people put this sh!t in me. >> >> >>http://www.freep.com/news/health/qinoc16.htm >> >> [The freep][news][Health] >> >> [news area navigation map] >> [Image] >> >> [Search] >> Military fights anthrax threat >> >> U.S. troops to get shots starting >> next summer >> >> December 16, 1997 >> >> BY RICHARD PARKER >> Free Press Washington Staff >> >> WASHINGTON -- The government is going >> to spend $130 million to inoculate >> the U.S. military against anthrax >> with a Michigan-made vaccine in an >> effort to protect 2.4 million troops >> against biological warfare. >> >> The decision announced Monday >> reflects mounting concern that rogue >> nations or terrorist groups using >> cheap weapons of mass destruction >> could wreak havoc on U.S. troops. >> >> "We owe it to our people to move >> ahead with this immunization plan," >> Defense Secretary William Cohen said >> in a statement. >> >> Cohen's decision comes as Iraqi >> President Saddam Hussein and the >> United Nations confront each other >> over UN inspections in Iraq. >> >> But the plan has been in the works >> for over a year and is unrelated to >> current tensions with Iraq, Pentagon >> officials said. >> >> Starting next summer, active duty >> servicemen and servicewomen as well >> as some reservists will get six >> injections over 18 months, followed >> by a yearly booster shot. >> >> The FDA-approved vaccine saw its >> widest use during the Persian Gulf >> War, when 150,000 troops received >> shots. It is currently given each >> year to about 3,000 people in special >> forces and biological units. >> >> Civilian veterinarians and livestock >> workers also widely use the vaccine, >> which is made under contract by >> Michigan Department of Community >> Health. >> >> Community Health spokeswoman Geralyn >> Lasher said the department is the >> sole manufacturer of the anthrax >> vaccine to be licensed by the Food >> and Drug Administration. >> >> "The anthrax vaccine is safe," Lasher >> said. "With a very few people, there >> will be body aches and fever, but >> those will last for a short time -- >> no permanent effects from it." >> >> Undertaking such a massive >> vaccination effort will not be easy, >> military officials cautioned. The >> Pentagon will have to track and >> vaccinate the 200,000 people who join >> the armed forces each year. In six >> months, the vaccine will be injected >> first into 100,000 troops in the >> Middle East and South Korea. >> >> One senior military official, >> speaking on condition of anonymity, >> estimated that the vaccine would be >> 95 percent effective. >> >> Staff writer Matt Helms contributed >> to this report. >> >> MORE HEALTH STORIES >> >> FREEP FRONT | NEWS FRONT >> ------------- >> ANTHRAX >> ------------- >> >> IT'S A >> BACTERIA >> that usually >> infects >> animals -- >> primarily >> sheep, >> cattle and >> horses. It >> is >> contagious. >> >> ANTHRAX >> ATTACKS with >> spores that >> are inhaled. >> Within six >> days, organs >> and muscles >> shut down >> and the >> victim >> suffocates. >> >> AS A WEAPON >> the spores >> are produced >> dry and >> packed into >> shells or >> bombs; the >> poison can >> be sprayed, >> too. Tiny >> amounts are >> deadly. An >> area >> attacked >> with anthrax >> can be >> contaminated >> for decades. >> >> The Defense >> Department >> considers it >> the easiest >> biological >> weapon to >> make and the >> most lethal. >> >> IRAQ, RUSSIA >> AND 10 other >> countries >> have the >> ability to >> make >> anthrax. >> >> THE VACCINE >> costs $3.60 >> a dose, but >> is not >> available to >> the general >> public. It's >> used mostly >> by the >> military and >> people who >> handle >> livestock. >> >> [navigation bar] >> >> All content © copyright 1997 Detroit Free Press and may not be republished >> without permission. > <snip>
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