[ex-Texan]

Al Qaida again?

[Dog Gone]

Smallpox has been eradicated, so this must be something else. If it truly was smallpox, this would be front page headlines around the entire world.

Hmmmmm....

[freedomson]

"He oughta be easy to find, he leaves a trail of dead people wherever he goes."

[MarMema]

It's not smallpox. The last case was seen in 1980.
It's something similar. This would be huge news.

[friendly]

IslamoBS

[firebrand]

ping

[mvonfr]

Is this a fake? I do not see the article on Dawn.com; do you have an accurate URL?

[Timesink]

Smallpox my butt.

[Cicero]

Dawn is naturally prejudiced in the usual ways, but it's also usually a reasonably reliable Islamic newssheet, as far as these things go. It could be a mistranslation. It could be a mistake. It could be a Pakistani urban legend. But I trust someone is checking it out, because if true it would indeed be a huge story.

It is suspected that Russia, China, and possibly Iraq have access to smallpox. And if they do, it could certainly have spread. I can't imagine that the Chinese would be stupid enough to give their Pakistani friends smallpox bacillae. But they gave them nuclear warheads and missiles to deliver them, so anything is possible. Also there are a lot of former Russian germ warfare scientists who are at loose ends and might be bought with Arab money. The U.S. has tried to keep them employed, but there are always loose ends.

[Politically Correct]

Sometimes the most startling things start out as short reports by a local reporter......

But I doubt that this guy knows what he's talking about.

[Judith Anne]

Interesting post. I read somewhere that even one CONFIRMED case of smallpox would be evidence of bioterrorism. Hope developements are in the news, regarding this.

[a_Turk]

Perfect opportunity for the US to show her compassion and take care of it 1, 2, 3. That would work wonders. Mr. President, let's roll!

[MarMema]

I sent the link to the CDC. It's not on their urban legend page yet. I'll post here if they reply to my email addy.

[The Great Satan]

The latest Science has an interesting article suggesting that a smallpox attack would be less catastrophic and more easily contained that we might imagine.

Personally, I think the threat of a smallpox attack is over-rated, for a variety of reasons. We need to prepare for it, no question, but I suspect that the word "smallpox" is being used like "nerve gas" or "dirty nukes" as a codeword for anthrax. Keeps people on their toes, but makes the threat nice and hypothetical so people don't connect the dots. Wouldn't be good for morale if people grasp clearly that we are in a standoff with the Iraqi strongman.

[Mitchell]

Chickenpox? Monkeypox? False reports may turn out to be a major problem in the event of another biowarfare attack. (Remember all the "hoax" anthrax letters? Disinformation and misinformation can be part of an enemy's strategy.)

[Mo1]

Al Qaida again?

Could be .. they do tend to test things out on their own people first

[ODDITHER]

Wait a minute, what freeper reamed me a new one when I suggested that Afghans have had small pox all a long? It has never been truly eradicated. Cases in Afghanistan have either gone unreported or covered up.

I witnessed small pox in the Afghans. There is nothing so horrific to see as a 2 year old child with small pox. I believe that the UN and health officials in the US have known all along that samll pox reoccuring was a definite possiblity. With or without Al Queda.

[Caipirabob]

I just looked up a post on a rumour board that spoke of this on 04/16/01 (yes, over a year ago.) Quote below from this link:

Subject: [health] Possible Smallpox Outbreak In Pakistan

Posted By: Vere My Sone Registered User

Posted At: 4/16/01 7:59:57 pm

Reply from Rense-

sorry if this is a repost-but I didn't notice it

www.sightings.com/general10/px.htm

Possible Smallpox Outbreak

In Pakistan

4-16-1

Hello Jeff - This just crossed my desk. If it is smallpox, this is a very sad day in the life of people on planet Earth.

To Patricia Doyle

From Talpur talpurmir@yahoo.com

Source: Daily Star, Karachi

April 16, 2001

Smallpox Cases Suspected In A Village Near Tando Bago

The Daily Star - Karachi

4-15-1

TANDO BAGO - The deadly disease smallpox, according to medical science has long been eradicated from the world. The malady afflicting a 20-year old villager and his 4-year old nephew in Qasim Magrio, a village near Tando Bago town, seems to be [similar to] this disease. The disease afflicted them 2 weeks ago, [and they now have festering sores]. They have applied all sorts of ointments to the wounds, as prescribed by doctors, but in vain. They were taken to Taluka Hospital, Tando Bago, but the doctors could not diagnose the mysterious malady. Now the condition of the patients is getting worse. Dr Ali Ahmed Khatri the medical superintendent of Taluka Hospital, Tando Bago, talking to The Star said that although smallpox has long since been eradicated he could not rule out the possibility of its reappearance.

[DoughtyOne]

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[dennisw]

Must be that Kashmir fever I've heard about. It spreads quickly among the indolent Muslims.

[Cindy]

SMALLPOX Articles:YAHOO! News - FULL COVERAGE: "SMALLPOX"

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: "SMALLPOX"

JAMA: "SMALLPOX"

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus: "MEDLINEplus: SMALLPOX"

UPI.com: "MONKEYPOX COULD BE USED AS BIOWEAPON" (060902)

ARABIA.com (AFP): "SADDAM URGES IRAQI SCIENTISTS TO THWART BAGHDAD'S 'ENEMIES'" (052702)

ISLAM-ONLINE.com: "THE IRAQI BIOWEAPON: THE CAMEL" by Hwaa Irfan (052302)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com (AP): "CDC STARTS TO FIGHT SMALLPOX AS WEAPON" (060202)

BBC News: "SMALLPOX IMMUNITY WARNING" (052902)