Threat Matrix- Daily Terror Thread (4):

New York Post ^ | February 24, 2004 | By NILES LATHEM

[Revel]

February 24, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has dispatched the elite commando force that hunted down Saddam Hussein to Afghanistan for a new operation aimed at getting Osama bin Laden, officials said yesterday. Military sources confirmed that members of the shadowy Task Force 121, the unit that conducted the high-tech search for Saddam and his henchmen, have recently begun operating in the remote mountainous region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where bin Laden and key al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives are believed to be hiding. The Task Force is made up of highly trained Delta and SEAL commandos, as well as CIA paramilitary operators. It operates outside normal military channels.

[TexKat]

I wonder if Avian influenza is transmittable in eggs?

Don't say that MamaDearest.

[TexKat]

Tests show bird flu was mutating at B.C. chicken hatchery, spread to 2nd farm

Wed Mar 10,12:06 AM ET

AMY CARMICHAEL

VANCOUVER (CP) - New tests have revealed that a rural B.C. chicken farm was a virus soup infected with mutating strains of avian flu, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday.

The agency said the tests found both mild and severe strains of the H7 virus. Originally, the agency thought it was dealing only with the weaker form.

"It is unusual - not unheard of - but it's a rare event to have both viruses on the same premises," said Dr. Ken Stepushyn, a veterinarian with the agency.

Tests show the virus was in the process of changing from a low to high pathogenic form in a second barn at the Loewen Acres hatchery in Abbotsford, B.C.

Pathogenicity refers to the intensity of the virus and its ability to jump to humans.

"It means it's a nasty virus on birds, it does kill birds at a higher rate so it's more deadly for the birds," Stepushyn said.

The agency stressed the risk to human health remains low and said this is not the same form of the virus that is killing people in Asia.

The agency said the farm followed strict international guidelines to stamp out high pathogenic outbreaks. It was quickly quarantined, some 16,000 birds on the property were slaughtered and an extensive disinfection process is underway.

"Our original response was quite timely. Putting the flock down was the right thing to do at the time," Stepushyn said.

Area poultry businesses did their part to stop the bird flu from spreading, making a pact to stay out of a hot-zone around Loewen Acres.

However, the plan might not have been successful. A second farm was quarantined Tuesday where some birds seemed to be suffering a low level of illness.

After initial tests were done at a provincial lab, the samples were sent to the CFIA headquarters to determine if avian flu is the culprit. Results are expected within the next day or so.

Meanwhile, the CFIA has set up an active surveillance program on the property.

The agency said it is continuing to check poultry farms in the area for signs of the virus, which was likely spread by wild ducks.

Last month, some 16,000 chickens were put to death at Loewen Acres.

Five workers fell ill with mild flu and conjunctivitis, but tests showed avian flu was not to blame in three of those cases.

The outbreak - only the third case in recent history - was found by a farmer who became alarmed when his birds began dying.

That prompted several countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, restricted imports of Canadian poultry.

Canada only exports about seven per cent of the chicken it produces and agriculture economists are confident that if consumption were to dip it would only be a temporary hiccup.

Chicken farms in Delaware and Texas were also infected with avian flu last month.

[Calpernia]

Whether eggs or fowl; wouldn't the virus be killed during the cooking process?

[Selene]

I wonder if Avian influenza is transmittable in eggs?

I have been wondering that myself. The price of eggs has skyrocketed. I just paid double of what they used to be.

[TexKat]

Good hygiene key to fighting bird flu

Cook poultry, eggs thoroughly

Apart from maintaining good personal hygiene, Dr Ho also reminded the public to take precautions when eating poultry and eggs.

Here are some tips:

* Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into sauce containing raw eggs;

* Cook eggs well until the white and the yolk are firm;

* Cook poultry thoroughly before eating; and

* If there are pinkish juices running from the cooked poultry or the middle part of its bone is still red in colour, the poultry should be cooked some more until it is fully done.

Want to know more about avian flu and its prevention? Visit the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section recently launched at the Avian Flu website.

[TexKat]

Avian Flu website

'Frequently Asked Questions'

[angcat]

So did I. Back in 85-86. Then I went to the North Street facility in White Plains.

[rickylc]

OK guys, here's a serious tinfoil story as you will see by the source.

I was listening to C to C last night because they had the earthquake guy on in the first hour. I like his theory about tides causing major earthquakes.

Anyway, they were talking about a 6.5 earthquake that supposedly hit Wyoming last night, but then the report was immediately pulled. A European agency also recorded the quake and were told to pull the report because it wasn't a quake, but a mineshaft collapse.

Of course Noory and the earthquake guy (sorry, I forget his name) were speculating that it was blasting for underground bunkers, possible nuclear tests, and such.

The quake supposedly occurred in close proximity to where VP Cheney has a ranch.

I've checked several sites for eathquake info and can find nothing regarding this "phantom" quake.

Anybody heard anything about it at all?

[TexKat]

Fire rips through local warehouse - Pasadena, Tx. March 10, 2004 Update

[rickylc]

This powder story is particularly interesting in that it's the first time I've seen mention of them testing a powder for the PLAGUE. What is tularemia? First time I'vee seen mention of that disease also.

White powder, not anthrax, shuts down Redstone's branch

Article snippet:

The results are negative for anthrax, officials say, referring to the white powdery substance passed to a Fayetteville Redstone Federal Credit Union teller Saturday morning.
However, it will be Thursday before the State Health Department Lab has results of additional testing for ricin, tularemia, plague and other potentially harmful substances.

[Calpernia]

Thank you!

[FairOpinion]

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040310-113438-8648r.htm

Poisoning hit Iraq minority community

BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 10 (UPI) -- An estimated 400 Iraqis from the minority Muslim Yazid sect were poisoned in northern Iraq, apparently from drinking water which was contaminated deliberately.

Daily Taakhi, the newspaper of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said dozens of inhabitants in the town of Khanki, in the province of Dahouk, 550 kilometers (315 miles) north of Baghdad, were taken to hospital for severe poisoning and many died Wednesday from dehydration.

The newspaper said that the poisoning appeared to be a terrorist act.

It said the incident occurred a few days after writings were found on walls in the northern city of Mosul calling for the killing of Yazidis, who were described as infidels.

Yazidis, estimated at only 10,000, follow an offshoot sect of Shiism and consider themselves part of the Kurdish ethnicity. They mostly live in towns and villages west of Mosul and north of the Kurdish province of Dahouk.

[rickylc]

Interesting that they don't say what they were poisoned with. Chem? Bio?

[jerseygirl]

How strange. There was a report of a similar incident occuring last week or so. I'll try to retrieve it.

[jerseygirl]

"The newspaper said that the poisoning appeared to be a terrorist act. " This reminded me of the AQ threat to poison the water system of an entire US city. I wonder what we screen for in water supplies, and if they would be able to find a toxic substance that we don't test for. Specifically, I was wondering about arsenic. (Ingested over a period of time.)

[TexKat]

What city is VP Cheney's ranch in, near? Did not find anything in the CheyenneNetwork News or in the Casper, Wy. News. But I did find this: Radioactive missiles found in Iraq in the CheyenneNetwork News.

I have got to run out for a bit, but here is a link to Wyoming Newspapers Wyoming Newspapers

[rickylc]

Really?!

Of an earthquake report in Wyoming that was immediately pulled?

You know, it could be the same story I guess. It sure sounded like they were talking about something that happened last night, but I was falling asleep so I may have misunderstood.

[jerseygirl]

I think it was about a week ago- I read the report on the TB 2000 bulletin board (a survivalist/prep/doomer site).

[rickylc]

Thanks for the link.

Cheney's ranch is in Teton County.

[freeperfromnj]

Thanks for the update. Seems like it was quite a mess.