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Article
A Deadly Game --
Questions about Biochemical Terrorism
What�s the possibility of contracting Anthrax?
�The risk of any individual in this country contracting anthrax is infinitesimal,� says Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
Is sarin nerve gas a threat?
The release of sarin gas by the Aum Shinrikyo cult in the Tokyo subway system in 1995 was the first time terrorists used chemical warfare against civilians. The release killed 12 people and injured hundreds. Nerve agents attack the central nervous system and can cause seizures, paralysis and death. Other nerve agents, such as tabun, soman, GF and VX can also be deadly and are relatively easy to manufacture and stockpile. But all the chemical agents are difficult to make in large quantities. Unlike some of the biological agents, chemical agents aren�t contagious and will generally dissipate quickly.
Can Water Supplies be Poisoned?
Poisoning water supplies isn�t easy. Chlorine kills most microbes, and a terrorist would need large quantities of chemical toxins to make people sick. One U.N. study estimated it would take 10 tons of potassium cyanide to poison a water supply, and treatment sensors would easily detect such amounts.
Should I get a supply of antibiotics?
�There�s no need to buy or store antibiotics, and indeed it can be detrimental to both the individual and to the community� says Dr. Koplan. If you try to buy antibiotics, you might not get the right type. If you need antibiotics, they will be available.
Should I give antibiotics to my child as a precaution?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, giving your children antibiotics when they are not needed and do more harm than good.
Should I get vaccinated for smallpox?
Although the government has ordered the production of enough vaccine for hopefully every American, the smallpox vaccine is currently unavailable. Because smallpox vaccination causes a small number of deaths, the government is not likely to start a vaccination program unless there is a smallpox outbreak.
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