Do-it-yourself biowarfare defense

I have NO IDEA about CAg except that it is expensive, and I don't take anything my doctors don't know about. I have too many meds & problems already! I have huge doubts about the effectiveness of homeopathy and herbal megadosing. Don't let my name fool you--I'm a chemistry *student* and maybe not even that for much longer. Maybe there's room for me at the bottom of the polemic biz? Does anyone know how well that pays?

VA, ground zero is always pretty much doomed and the second generation infected doesn't fare much better in any plague. But don't lose hope unless you work at a major transportation hub. If our government can respond swiftly and decisively, an epidemic can be contained by drastic quarantine measures; few toxins are dangerous when diluted by enough air/water. The exceptions are expensive and dangerous to transport--"OOPS, Achmed, I just spilled some plutonium dust in that chai you are drinking"?

I am hoping that we've already seen the cleverest thing these people can do. Taking the WTC towers down COMPLETELY was clever. I was expecting the second attack almost at once if it was going to be bio. By now we'd know. Don't worry--but do wash your hands!!!!!!!

Don't worry--but do wash your hands!!!!!!!

LOL I feel better already. And I do agree with your statement about it being able to be contained. The problem is leaving a contaminated area. The odds of being hit are very very slim, but if you are, I suspect its over for you. If you're not, no need to try to wear a gas mask as you sleep. . as if this could even be done. I doubt it.

Riri, what I know about smallpox mostly comes from reading historical fiction from the Revolutionary War period. Both sides of the battle were terribly stricken with this. Apparently it is spread by contact, flies, and so forth. The painful pustules that develop, then rupture, are filled with very contagious material. Some smart guys figured out that if you popped the pustules before they ruptured on their own and then infect people through a little scratch on their arm, they would develop just ONE pox at that site and would develop a healthy immune response before the infection became systemic. I have no idea if this works but I'm passing it along anyway. I know that the first smallpox vaccine was developed because a physician noticed that dairy workers who had had the much milder infection cowpox seemed immune to smallpox. He deliberately infected his own son with cowpox and later proved the boy protected from smallpox as well. Smallpox is no laughing matter. Those who survive were terribly scarred for life, and the infection completely debilitated or killed almost all who got it. This is what I know, and it's not based on any medical knowledge. I'm not a real Chemist, I just play one on FR and during frantic hour exams.

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