SMALL POX AND HALLOWEEN CANDY- A short primer on viral disease transmission

Dr. Brian Kopp (proud2bRC)

[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.

• Contact with fomites:
  1. Indirect contact transmission is a form of contact transmission where transmission occurs from a reservoir via inanimate objects.
  2. These objects generally are referred to as fomites.
  3. Fomites are basically almost anything an infected individual (or reservoir) can touch, upon which can be left a residue of contagious pathogen.
• Exceptions include the various inanimates referred to as vehicles:
  1. food
  2. air
  3. liquids
• Typically it is more difficult to avoid indirect contact transmission than it is to avoid direct contact transmission.
• A certain degree of organismal durability may be necessary to survive passage on a fomite.
• The best way to prevent indirect contact transmission is by:
  1. avoiding contact with fomites
  2. avoiding contact of hands with mucous membranes especially when handling or potentially handling fomites
  3. the use of barriers when handling fomites
  4. disinfecting fomites before handling
  Large candy purchases investigated by FBI

  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
  

  The FBI said Friday that it is investigating the cash purchase of "large quantities" of candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne.

  "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.

  
  

Candy man

News/Current Events
Source: snopes.com
Published: Oct 20 Author: Snopes.com
Posted on 10/20/01 6:26 PM Eastern by earaiak

I called the Hackensack location (because I grew sick of the false alarms and rumors) and this information is true. Guys be careful a notice just came to me from someone that works in Costco. 2 Arabic guys bought more than $35,000.00 dollars worth of candy, in Wayne $15,000.00 & in Hackensack $20,0000.00. After they left they found out their Costco i.d was fake, & they paid the whole thing cash. The F.B.I. was notified just be careful with your kids for trick o' treating on Halloween!!! i just thought u wanted to know that. DON"T LET THOSE KIDS GO OUT FOR HALLOWEEN!

---

No kneejerking allowed. So far it hasn't been unsubstantiated. Check out the snopes site for more info: The Candy Man

[Brian Kopp DPM]

I am not an infectious disease specialist. I am only a foot doctor. However, I know enough about transmission of disease to understand that if the terrorists have smallpox, we may be in the beginning stage of an attempt at causing a smallpox epidemic. What better route than by powdering (NOT injecting) Halloween candy with smallpox virus? It is a perfect example of asymmetrical warfare. Plus there are many unsubstantiated rumors about further attacks on Halloween.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Something to think about. I don't intend to scare or cause panic but given the evidence this is a possible scenario.

[Macaw]

Oh boy. I for one will not inspect my kids candy for anything. Eat up kid -- don't worry about the urban legends.

[Sunshine55]

Thank you for the info, I was already pretty much sold on the idea of no candy this year. We're on our way out now to buy flag pencils and erasers to pass out instead. Any candy my kids get will be bought by ME.

[TwoStep]

Thanks for the heads up! Scary, but possible.

[cmsgop]

It will sure be interesting to see how Halloween goes this year in my neighborhood. Methinks knocks will be few and far between.

[Bommer]

Put down the crack pipe doc!

He's something to scare the sh!t out of you! Whats going to stop a terrorist with smallpox from spraying cans of juice or tomato paste while shopping? Or touching fresh fruit or vegetables! Scare you from eating yet? Get a life!

[No_Doll_i]

I wonder if you have any infomation on the half life of smallpox once it is outside the container. Just how long can it live on say a candy wrapper or anything else. I have searched for this information and have not come up with any definate time period. Thanks

[Sabertooth]

Check these threads on

Suspicious Middle Eastern men
buying enormous quanities of candy

Not a hoax.

[Snowy]

We're on our way out now to buy flag pencils and erasers to pass out instead. Any candy my kids get will be bought by ME.

Thank you for the wonderful idea!

[TheDon]

Nothing like fomenting a little hysteria... Checking over the kid's candy and discarding certain items is something a responsible parent should always do. Worrying about terrorists infecting your kid's candy? I don't think so. Of course, a lot of people play the lotteries so I'm sure many will buy into the poisoned candy hysteria.

[Sabertooth]

The concern is not that infected candy will be handed out in isolated neighborhoods by strangers.

The concern is that infected candy will be surreptitiously placed back on store shelves like poisoned Tylenol was back in the 80s.

[Marylander]

Obviously the terrorists do not intend to hand out the candy at their own doors, so what is the plan? Return tainted packages to store shelves?

[Sabertooth]

It might be hysterical, but for the documented cases of middle eastern men attempting to buy thousands of dollars of candy with cash and fake Costco IDs. See post #9.

We know the other shoe is going to drop with these terrorists. We know Sadaam has anthrax and is probably involved with the anthrax letters.

We also know that Sadaam Hussein has smallpox, in vast quantities.

Children have the least advanced immune systems, and kids infected by candy would go back to shool for two weeks before showing symptoms of smallpox... thereby infecting many in the school. Further, NONE of these kids would even have the advantage of the old pre-1972 vaccine in their systems.

Halloween candy would be an ideal way to spread smallpox, should that be the next move of the terrorists.

[Snowy]

Nothing like fomenting a little hysteria... Checking over the kid's candy and discarding certain items is something a responsible parent should always do. Worrying about terrorists infecting your kid's candy? I don't think so. Of course, a lot of people play the lotteries so I'm sure many will buy into the poisoned candy hysteria.

Well, I don't like to spread hysteria either, however, one of the stores in question is very close to me. I am waiting anxiously for a good, innocent reason for why boat loads of candy were returned by Middle Eastern men with fake membership cards, and why this candy was then put back on the shelf. There could be a perfectly innocent reason. However, I find it odd that they haven't gotten to the bottom of this yet. Of course, if I didn't live in the area, or have kids, I wouldn't worry either...

[Sabertooth]

Possibly...

Followed by the scenario in post #14.

[SLB]

The concern is that infected candy will be surreptitiously placed back on store shelves like poisoned Tylenol was back in the 80s.

I don't like wearing tinfoil hats, but this gives me cause to pause.

[Texaggie79]

Ok, OK people, no need to worry ,send all your candy to me, I will test all of it.

[Joe 6-pack]

I'm handing out toy soldiers...