Britain on smallpox alert

Evening Standard ^ | 2 Dec 2002 | Charles Reiss, Political Editor

[UKCajun]

Dramatic emergency plans to counter a biological warfare terrorist attack on Britain were announced by the Government today.

Within the next eight weeks, 12 disaster centres will be set up in London and across the United Kingdom ready to meet an attempt to spread smallpox among the population. In addition, some 700 key medical and Ministry of Defence staff are to be vaccinated against the disease to act as the front line against any attack.

The 12 "regional smallpox response groups" will hold supplies of vaccine under guard ready for rapid use. ...

[Wordsmith]

Link doesn't seem to be working?

[Gritty]

The countries that al Qaeda infests and flourishes in are ALSO notoriously ridden with smallpox...among other deseases.

The last recorded case of smallpox was in the 1970s, which is why we no longer get the required smallpox immunization for foreign travel.

The problem is Iraq may have gotten some of the Soviet stocks (they weaponized tons of the stuff until the early 90s). If they have it they could pass it on to Al Qaeda or just use it themselves. Just a little dab will do ya in an unprotected world. Once this monstrous genie is out of the bottle again, it's Nightmare Time for humanity.

I have seen unconfirmed reports Iraq has already innoculated it's troops. The radio news today said we will probably innoculate ours soon.

This doesn't look good. The government should allow public release of the vaccine for those who want it. Our family would be first in line. If a new outbreak strain has been bio-engineered, it could be worse than disastrous.

[ex-Texan]

If the Islamics release smallpox here GWB will nuke half the Islamic nations in the ME. If he choses to not nuke 'em then there will be vigilante mobs in the streets. Could get really ugly.

I have heard reports that 100,000 + U.N. troops are already here in the U.S. and more in Canada. They will enforce the laws here while out troops are fighting overseas. There is a little problem with American troops shooting Americans, don't you see?

[Scully]

Heads up...

[MHGinTN]

Bio-terrorism may well be the 'source' for the pestilence written about in scriptures dealing with the end times.

[PatrickHenry]

Heads up...

I really would nuke them if they tried something like this.

[Woodman]

80,000,000 Americans against 100,000 UN Troops, hardly seems like a fair fight?

[mathluv]

I heard that the smallpox from Russia might not be preventable from the immunization that is availabe. Is this idea from Richard Preston's book "Demon in the Freezer"? I also heard something similar to this - probably on Fox. I seldom watch anything else.

[mathluv]

U.N. troops are already here in the U.S. and more in Canada. They will enforce the laws here while out troops are fighting overseas.

Now that is scary! I for one do not want any Un troops to do anything here!!!!!!

[Man of the Right]

Let's hope they do. Without Britain being attacked.

[Man of the Right]

Sell 'em? Given 'em away.

[Man of the Right]

Bull hockey. U.S. intelligence is non-existent. British intelligence is poor -- a vast improvement. The SAS serves as the Sheik of Oman's personal bodyguard. Also, MI-6 is bound to have a useful source or two left in Jordan and the Emirates. The elites in these countries have some idea what's going on even while the U.S. government remains clueless.

If you're going to launch a smallpox attack, you're more likely to target a densely populated area with a Muslim fifth column -- a place like northern New Jersey, Detroit, London, Manchester, or Leeds. Britain draws special attention for being the only country that provides the U.S. unqualified, and militarily useful, support.

Security alerts just don't happen.

[Prodigal Son]

I have heard reports that 100,000 + U.N. troops are already here in the U.S. and more in Canada.

LOL! I spit my coffee on my keyboard with that one. Funniest line all day ;-)

[AdamSelene235]

It's like there's some intelligence we're not privy to which indicates this is a serious threat.

No, the threat has been known for a decade now.

Check the article entitled The BioWeaponeers in my profile.

[Paleo Conservative]

Sell them!

[Age of Reason]

"Although smallpox was officially eradicated twenty years ago, some believe it has the potential to become a prime weapon in a bio-terrorist attack. Richard Preston, the author who tackled the Ebola virus in his book The Hot Zone, explores this threat and discusses his new book, 'The Demon in the Freezer: A True Story.'"

Listen to a thirty-minute interview with the author (RealAudio): http://www.realimpact.net/rihurl.ram?file=realimpact/wnyc/ranyco/ll102302b.ra

[pfflier]

The easiest way to get smallpox into the US is through the southern borders. Mexico has no health care system to speak of and certainly no way to contain a smallpox outbreak. The illegal aliens may be unwitting vectors streaming throughout the US in a very short period. They would be ideal though because they would be very reluctant to seek treatment until they were thoroughly contageous and had contacted many others.

[Gritty]

I heard that the smallpox from Russia might not be preventable from the immunization that is availabe.

Apparently the Soviets did a lot of research on recombinants of smallpox and have weaponized extremely lethal variants. Whether the "normal" vaccinia vaccination would cover the new variants is probably questionable because the variants are re-engineered with other diseases, such as ebola. Who knows if the immune antibodies will react to these different threats, who no doubt have different signatures?

There is a discussion of it in this article THE BIOWEAPONEERS.

[Gritty]

If the Islamics release smallpox here GWB will nuke half the Islamic nations in the ME.

If smallpox - or lethal variant of it - gets loose here, it would be devastating to our country if it spread unchecked. Imagine if 20-50% of our population were horribly maimed and dead! Chaos. I imagine mobs in the streets would be among the least of our worries. Just feeding ourselves and making society run at a 19th century level might be a tough job.

And, yes, it would be a good reason to unleash nuclear weapons on the enemy. Otherwise, a hostile second rate power may well end up the day as the superpower. Better to send them to the Stone Age than take the chance of them taking us on while we are in a gravely weakened condition.

[willyone]

All they have to do is give a half strength or less inoculation and follow it uo later with a regular one. That should eliminate most bad reactions for the immune impaired. The HIV lobby is the force driving the anti inoculation bandwagon.