NOTE: The following post is a quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1600054/posts
Thailand: Specialists on full alert following outbreak of bacterial which could be use as weapon
The Nation (Thai) ^ | March 21, 2006 | Nation Staff
Posted on 03/20/2006 7:48:19 PM PST by JimSEA
A serious disease outbreak in the northern province of Nan had Army weapons specialists and US disease investigators on full alert Monday.
Almost 150 people in the province have been stricken with botulism, a rare yet lethal bacterial disease that could potentially be used as a biological weapon.
Health authorities have sought international assistance treating the patients.
US military biological weapons experts have been flown into Nan, as have World Health Organisation disease specialists, said Thai Disease Control Department chief Thawat Suntharacharn.
Since March 4, 143 villagers in Nan's Ban Luang district have been diagnosed as suffering from botulism, a disease caused by toxins produced by several members of a group of bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum.
All of the patients reported having eaten dishes containing preserved bamboo shoots from the same batch at a merit-making feast in their village last week. Shortly after eating the shoots they began to suffer similar symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing, dry mouths and muscle weakness, Nan chief health officer Dr Pisit Sriprasert said on Sunday. Of the 147, 33 are currently breathing with the aid of respirators, he said.
"This bacterium is among three strains that can be used as a biological warfare agent - the others are anthrax and smallpox," said Thawat.
Fears of a biological attack arose because of the number of people falling ill at one time.
(Note: Please review post no. 1256.)
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=20003232
March 21, 2006 : Last updated 02:22 pm (Thai local time)
Police removes bomb near orphanage
Pattani — Police removed a dud homemade bomb weighing 20 kilogrammes planted near an orphanage in this southern border province Tuesday morning.
Police said the bomb was planted in front of a restaurant beside the orphanage in Muang district.
The bomb made of fertilizer weighing 20 kgs was designed to be detonated by a mobile phone. The phone record showed that a call had made to it but it failed ignite the explosives.
Police safely disposed the bomb at 8:30 am.
Pol Col Somjit Nasomyon, commander of Muang district police station, said the bomb carried number 12, prompting police to suspect that there were several other bombs prepared to be planted in the area.