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

[cherry]

So, rather than getting hysterical, let your kids go out and enjoy Halloween! <P. will do Mohammed!...whatever you say....

[TheDon]

More hysteria...I hope it's not contagious!

[copycat]

I suppose killing our little girls would be okay then.

You have issues...Reread it, without the bias.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Thanks for responding. We'll keep digging for the stories, as always, here on FR.

[Deborah63]

My friends born in 1961 and 1962 all have vaccination scars but my friends and I born in 1963 and after have no scars. We were not vaccinated.

[Sabertooth]

I've seen vaccination scars on thighs. Most are on shoulders, but not all.

Check your pediatric records.

[Prodigal Daughter]

Thank you for this post. I showed this thread to an internal medicine doctor/aerospace engineer in my family who is interested in biowarfare and infectious diseases. His opinion is you are absolutely right. He was shocked to hear about the large purchases of candy. I don't plan to buy candy for a while no matter how well packaged it is. We don't know if they have insiders working at warehouses, transport companies or candy factories. This M.D. says he is going to tell all of his patients and colleagues and e-mail this thread around.

[Prodigal Daughter]

Bump in case you haven't seen this, and Primer on Smallpox

For knowledgeable types...

[Brian Kopp DPM]

My older brother has a para 45, sweeet gun. I narrowed my choice down to Glock, para, kimber, and HK. In the end, I liked the feel of the HK, but I wish I could have one of each. Oh well, so many guns, such little time (money)...

[Loopy]

Shut up and go away with your lies and stupidity.

[glock rocks]

thanks for the ping. interesting stuff...

[RnMomof7]

Good bump..thanks

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you PD. I had not seen this!

BUMP!

[DallasDeb]

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

I don't think this is true.

[DallasDeb]

Further, NONE of these kids would even have the advantage of the old pre-1972 vaccine in their systems.

Our military is mostly made up of young people born after 1972.

[DallasDeb]

A friend of mine, his sister was dating an Arabic man, who I believe was in his twenties. The man disapeared a day or two before September 11th. He left the sister a note saying something along the lines of, "Don't fly on planes on September 11th and don't go out on October 31st." The note was turned into the FBI.

This is an urban legend.

[Sabertooth]

"Our military is mostly made up of young people born after 1972."

Fair point. I should have been more specific about civilian vaccinations.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I'm not taking anything lightly. Just because you was denied access to the vaccine does not mean that someone like me, was not vaccined.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks PD; I've seen it.

[Robert Lomax]

Fox indicated tonight that Iraq, Libya Syria, and possibly North Korea have smallpox which was acquired from the former USSR.