Posted on 10/21/2001 10:34:13 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
A short primer on viral disease transmission. Many viral diseases are transmitted via fomites:
fomite
SYLLABICATION: fo·mite
PRONUNCIATION: fmt
NOUN: An inanimate object or substance that is capable of transmitting infectious organisms from one individual to another.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from New Latin fmits, pl. of Latin fmes, tinder, from fovre, to warm. See dhegwh- in Appendix I.
In other words, you touch something, get the virus on your hand, then touch you face, mouth, nose or other mucus membrane.
Candy wrappers would be a perfect fomite because the act of handling the candy wrapper occurs immediately before the contact with the mouth.
In other words, no need to inject anything.
Just a light dusting of smallpox virus in the form or a powder. If done correctly it would be undetectable.
And unlike anthrax, which requires thousands of huge bacterial spores be inhaled into the lungs, relatively few microscopic smallpox viruses would be required. And nasal exposure would be sufficient to cause full blown infection, whereas nasal exposure with anthrax is relatively harmless.
No trick or treating for my kids this year.
News/Current Events
Source: Bergen NJ Record
Published: October 20, 2001 Author: MITCHEL MADDUX and PETER POCHNA
Posted on 10/20/01 11:17 PM Eastern by spycatcher
"We have been advised and we are looking into the incident of a gentleman buying large quantities of candy," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI spokeswoman in Newark.
Carroll declined to identify the purchaser, but indicated that he is in federal custody for immigration law reasons not related to the purchase of the candy.
"I cannot comment on INS detainees," Carroll said.
Carroll said it would be premature to draw conclusions about the purchaser's intent for the candy, which agents had not found by Friday night. She declined to describe the candy.
"We have no evidence or information for us to suspect there is any reason to cancel scheduled events," Carroll said when asked if the FBI had concerns about the safety of Halloween. "However, the public is encouraged to remain alert but calm."
Hackensack police took a report from Costco about the candy purchase at the Hackensack store at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. The police then contacted the FBI.
"They told us to stay out of it," said Hackensack Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa.
Zisa said the FBI had already learned about the purchase. A local Costco manager had reported the incident to corporate headquarters, near Seattle, and had sent a videotape from a store security camera, Zisa said.
An official at Costco's corporate headquarters said Friday night that no one was available to comment on the matter. Another Costco official, who declined to be identified, said such large purchases from the chain of wholesale grocery and household goods stores are not uncommon.
Kerry Gill, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Newark, said he could not discuss the case because of confidentiality policies.
News/Current Events
Source: snopes.com
Published: Oct 20 Author: Snopes.com
Posted on 10/20/01 6:26 PM Eastern by earaiak
No kneejerking allowed. So far it hasn't been unsubstantiated. Check out the snopes site for more info: The Candy Man
"They stopped vaccinating for smallpox in 1982, not 1972. I know this because I was one of the last children to be vaccinated for smallpox in 1982."
Everything I've read to date says 1972. You sure it was for smallpox? Do you have a visible scar?
I wonder if some received smallpox vaccine after'72, but most didn't. Seriously, 1972 seems to be the accepted date everywhere.
" Of course if this is weapons grade smallpox, it does not matter if you have been vaccinated for smallpox or not, because it will probably kill you either way."
I'd be interested in seeing sources on this as well.
Comments?
There were several incidents. One group (using the same card, IIRC) bought $80,000 worth, and then the FBI and/or Immigration got into the picture, and all we know is that the candy is not accounted for. The $35,000 was one of the three buys that added up to $80,000 Another incident was for a smaller amount, $3,500, I think. That batch was returned, "examined" by the Health Dep't, and put back on the shelves.
If you haven't seen these yet, please take a look:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/552988/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/552863/posts
http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/candy.htm
Status: TRUE
Note that in one case, a large amount was *returned*, and put back on the shelf after being "checked". Did they check *every* piece of it? Impossible, IMO.
They must have some mighty powerful eagle-eyes to be able to visually detect a microscopic amount of smallpox if it was present.
That is exactly what I've been thinking as I read these posts. Smallpox is so very contagious that we can't really do anything about it, can we? If Smallpox is the next bioweapon, then we had better get the cemeteries ready. Remember, smallpox is a virus. There are no antibiotics (which work against bacteria) which will work on viruses. Go see your local priest, rabbi or minister and be prepared.
How many times does a fool die?
"It's fine to have a 'relative' concern about your loved ones and your own safety but it seems to be getting ludicrous."
What a condescending load of tripe. Did you even read the verified reports of what's going on here? How dare you urge people to play arabian roulette with their children's lives. How dare you.
"You and those that are trembling with fear here, need to lighten up."
I see no one trembling with fear. All I see is an arrogant poster trying to intimidate and embarass parents into risking their children's lives, because he has mastered the art of rushing in where angels fear to tread.
"Hell man....you could get run over by a car tomorrow."
The odds go up dramatically for people who play in the traffic.
If you haven't seen these yet, please take a look:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/552988/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/552863/posts
http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/candy.htm
Status: TRUE
Note that in one case, a large amount was *returned*, and put back on the shelf after being "checked". Did they check *every* piece of it? Impossible, IMO.
And about the scar, I doubt I could find it because I have a lot of scars on my upper arms from years of allergy shots and ingrown hairs.
I wonder if some received smallpox vaccine after'72, but most didn't. Seriously, 1972 seems to be the accepted date everywhere.
I am voting for 1972. I was born in '74, my husband and best friend in '73 and none of us have been vaccinated for smallpox.
If tampered candy is returned to store shelves, even "families you personally know and trust" won't be of any protection.
Would a "coward" post this information knowing full well that people like you are going to flame him? I don't see many doctors putting their names and reputations on the line here in an effort to alert people of a serious threat. I am not a fool, nor a coward. It is easy though for armchair quarterbacks to make such an accusation. I'm not trembling in fear in a corner, or running to the hills, or making a "safe room" to prevent contamination. I am making a reasonable effort to inform others of my suspicions.
That said, I do look in the mirror and occasionally wonder if I see a bit of tin foil there.
Oh well, I'll be happy to eat my tin foil hat if my suspicions prove to be hysteria, and I'll admit publically that I was being stupid. Until then, everyone should examine the overall evidence, and make up their own mind.
If you think I'm a bit nutz, that's fine too. But at least join me in practicing safe Freeping (a weak attempt at a bit of humor here for an otherwise too serious subject):
An Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie (AFDB) is a type of headwear that can shield your brain from most electromagnetic psychotronic mind-control carriers. AFDBs are inexpensive (even free if you don't mind scrounging for thrown-out aluminium foil) and can be constructed by anyone with at least the dexterity of a chimp (maybe bonobo). This cheap and unobtrusive form of mind-control protection offers real security to the masses. Not only do they protect against incoming signals, but they also block most forms of brain scanning and mind reading, keeping the secrets in your head truly secret. AFDBs are safe and operate automatically. All you do is make it and wear it and you're good to go! Plus, AFDBs are stylish and comfortable.
What are you waiting for? Make one today!
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I will be charitable and presume that you are ridiculing posters in this thread by comparing the candy reports with urban legend.
So, I will simply point out that the snopes Urban Legend site has verified this case as true.
Man, there's a ton of Sunday Cowboys doing a lot of shooting from the hip today.
There is a difference between paranoia and prudence. I would suggest that you ask someone to help you learn about it some time.
Are you aware that middle eastern men have purchased massive amounts of candy, some of which has been returned to the store shelves, and the rest cannot be found by the FBI?
I received allergy shots for years,and never got a scar of any kind, let alone one this visible. You might want to double check your medical records. IMHO
Not if they have the vaccine. Any state working on smallpox as a WMD would more than likely also be vaccinating their workers. Same is not necessarily true of the terrorist in the field. That is why another scenario may be more likely.
Terrorists have already been flying to multiple cities in one day planning attacks, judging by records already released of their activities.
Take a handful of terrorist martyrs, infect them with smallpox, and send them at the point they are most contagious on a cross country trip, transferring flights at all the busiest airport hubs.
Relatively few infected martyrs could start an multicentric epidemic, but they would be dead before the authorities knew there was an outbreak.
Let's look at what we do know about their MO.
There are massive amounts of envelopes of "white powder" being mailed, and a few of them contain anthrax.
This is really not very innovative. The USSR was set to throw massive amounts of "decoys" at us if they ever launched "the big one". The idea was to make it impossible for us to pick the real weapons out of the mass of incoming items.
Radar "chaff" is another variation on the theme.
So, what would happen if they bought thousands of pieces of candy, and only infected one out every 250 or thereabouts?
I'll tell you what would happen: they'd cause an astronomical amount of terror.
And as to them "dying in lingering agony from the affects of smallpox", think about it. All they'd need to do is get innoculated prior to handling the virus!
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