Food Supply Vulnerable To Bioterrorist Attack

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Friday December 3 1:04 PM ET Food supply vulnerable to bioterrorist attack By Will Boggs, MD

WASHINGTON, Dec 03 (Reuters Health) -- While numerous groups express worries about possible bioterrorist attacks involving airborne bacteria such as smallpox or anthrax, the public is much more vulnerable to a biological attack through contamination of the food supply, according to presentations here at the 48th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Despite more than 225 alleged cases involving the illicit use or threat of biological agents, only 21 of 143 confirmed cases included the actual use of any type of biological agent, according to W. Seth Carus from the National Defense University, Washington, DC. ``All of those cases were either from water or food contamination or from direct injection,'' he said.

Col. Gerald Parker, USAMRIID Commander, noted that the threat from food-related bioterrorism stems from two factors. First, the biological contamination of the food supply would require little technical expertise. Second, attacks could take place anywhere along the food supply chain -- from harvesting to processing to distributing to preparing and serving.

Successful biological attacks have already been witnessed, Parker said, citing deliberate Salmonella bacteria contamination of a salad bar in Oregon and muffin contamination with Shigella bacteria in Texas. The illness presents exactly like the natural infection, making detection difficult or impossible, he noted.

Increasing centralization of animal and food processing and distribution also increase the risk of a bioterrorist attack, according to consultant Wallace Deen. ``Virtually all the beef processed in the United States takes place within a 200 mile radius,'' Deen said. ``A serious attack with the agent causing hoof and mouth disease, for example, could essentially wipe out the beef supply.''

``And there are feed products and micronutrients for which there are only one or two suppliers,'' Deen said. ``One focused act could eliminate worldwide inventories of some key food items.''

``Biological attacks need not even be massive,'' Parker observed. ``Bacteria could be introduced at levels below detection and grow to pathogenic (disease-causing) levels, for example.''

Awareness of the potential for biological attacks on food and water should enhance public health professionals' ability to recognize an attack if it occurs. Should bioterrorists engage in such an act, Parker said, ``the appropriate front-line response will require total integration of the efforts of national security specialists, law enforcement agents, and the public health service.''

None of the speakers ventured to offer a plan to prevent or prepare for a bioterrorist assault on the food or water supply. ''Maybe there's some value, after all, in all those Y2K survival packages people are putting together,'' Deen quipped.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991203/hl/psb_7.html

-- LOON (blooney10@aol.com), December 03, 1999

Answers

Scary world, isn't it! I worry these days about accidental contamination of our water supplies as the small and medium chemical companies that line our great rivers face the rollover, given that 80% of them are said not to be ready, and that no one is allowed to give public warning about known probable hazards, if I correctly read recent posts.

The computer date change really IS just a subset of the maze of our amazing world situation. Maximize to the fullest your ability to be self-reliant. Ask yourself constantly, "Am I doing the most productive thing possible right now?" Above all, STORE MORE WATER!

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999.


Interesting that they mention hoof and mouth disease. See: Biological Warfare Against Iraq

one way to increase the success rate of predictions is to take action to make sure they come true

terrorism is BIG BUSINESS. Fear sells. This is a PR campaign. Expect an attack followed by huge increase in gov't funding for anti-terrorism, plus more gov't control of food supply.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 04, 1999.


''Maybe there's some value, after all, in all those Y2K survival packages people are putting together...''

No kidding.

Y2K does not happen in a vacuum... unfortunately.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ