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.
A few days ago I was reading the "Bible Code". I have no idea whether it's a hoax or not, but the author wrote that the code predicted: 1.) NYC being attacked by guided nuclear missiles in 2004 2.)An AQ "martyr" exposing himself to plague then taking an international flight and 3) nuclear world war in 2006.
Article Last Updated: Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 8:19:19 AM PST
Bioweapon out of California gives up mysteries at local lab
By Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER
Scientists are coaxing secrets from an enigmatic and incredibly infectious germ, Francisella tularensis, that sprang from its discovery in California's foothills to become a weapon in the world's largest biological arsenals.
Biologists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory have decoded the genetic recipe for Francisella tularensis, a bug that has pestered humans long enough to warrant a Biblical caution against eating rabbits: "their flesh shall ye not eat, andtheir carcass shall ye not touch."
Japanese scientists tapped "rabbit fever" in World War II for use as a weapon. A U.S. military scientist traded North America's most virulent strain to Soviet counterparts for a milder version, useful as a vaccine.
The two Cold War adversaries perfected delivery of the virulent form by spray tanks and bomblets, intended for cities. The Soviet Union continued production of vaccine- and antibiotic-resistant strains into the 1990s.
Yet scientists never have understood what makes tularensis such a remarkably effective agent of disease.
It may take a few thousand Bacillus anthracis bacteria to trigger a case of anthrax, but inhaling just 10 tularensis bacteria can result in a lethal case of tularemia, in half the time.
"It's highly infectious
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~1972459,00.html