Salon.com: Biological alarm in Washington

[garybeck]

Biological alarm in Washington
Did terrorists attack Washington with a deadly pathogen?

By Mark Benjamin

Oct. 18, 2005 | WASHINGTON -- On Sept. 24, 2005, tens of thousands of protesters marched past the White House and flooded the National Mall near 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. They had arrived from all over the country for a day of speeches and concerts to protest the war in Iraq. It may have been the biggest antiwar rally since Vietnam. A light rain fell early in the day and most of the afternoon was cool and overcast.

Unknown to the crowd, biological-weapons sensors, scattered for miles across Washington by the Department of Homeland Security, were quietly doing their work. The machines are designed to detect killer pathogens. Sometime between 10 a.m. on Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. on Sept. 25, six of those machines sucked in trace amounts of deadly bacteria called Francisella tularensis. The government fears it is one of six biological weapons most likely to be used against the United States.

It was an alarming reading. The biological-weapons detection system in Washington had never set off any alarms before. There are more than 150 sensors spread across 30 of the most populated cities in America. But this was the first time that six sensors in any one place had detected a toxin at the same time. The sensors are also located miles from one another, suggesting that the pathogen was airborne and probably not limited to a local environmental source.

William Stanhope, associate director for special projects at the St. Louis University School of Public Health's Institute for Biosecurity, has been closely following scattered government and news reports about the incident. He's convinced it was a botched terrorist attack. "I think we were lucky and the terrorists were not good," he says. "I am stunned that this has not been more of a story."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/10/18/tularemia/

(edited to include link to article)

[aquart]

1. Now, who would want to attack anti-Bush protesters?

I'm thinking. I'm thinking...

[Tesla]

3. uuuuggghhhhh...who would want to do that??/

[Nay]

6. I just can't imagine, can you????

DH, DS and I were there that day and never got sick. I swear, if those bastards had made MY SON sick in one of their disgusting schemes, well, I simply cannot describe what I would do to those monsters.

[TexasLawyer]

37. A giant half-chicken, half squirrel

From a very funny episode of South Park--

The town policeman's deduction as to just who-- or what-- was stealing teeth and tooth-fairy money from the South Park children as they slept.

He surmised that the giant half-chicken, half squirrel would use its ill-gotten gains in order to build some kind of giant nest for its genetically superior and potentially dangerous offspring.

[CoffeeCat]

2. I am stunned that it isn't more of a story either...which leads me...

...to believe that it was an inside job.

BushCo has never missed an opportunity to exploit terrorism to incite fear. That's their modus operandi.

Why are they completely silent on this issue?

They don't care that tularemia was detected in Washington, DC--yet they call in the military to NYC because of a POSSIBLE threat, that was based on the flimsy ramblings of someone in Iraq?

This stinks to high heaven.

Interesting that this happens to protesters of the Iraq war.

Sounds like terrorism all right...

[screembloodymurder]

21. The Pentagon ran drills the day before the march.

I don't remember the reason, but then I think I know the reason.

[Metta]

4. Machavellian side of Fascism.

They'd kill us and hide the bodies if they thought they could get away with it.

[BootinUp]

5. without reading the whole story

I suspect that they have problems with this sensor detection system. I mean come on folks, you wanna know which country is capable of this kind of attack? Botched or not, you're living in it. Ok now you call me an ignorant bastard.

[garybeck]

7. that's the point

any intelligent reader will deduce that it was an inside job (not faulty detectors). Why would terrorists attack protesters? Who would attack protesters? Who has access to biological weapons?

[BootinUp]

9. You don't think the supposed attackers from within

who had access to the bio weapons would also know about the sensors?

My opinion is that it was a false detection, that six detected something tells me that there is an algorithm problem that prevents the sensor from making a correct match or rather allows a false positive.

[garybeck]

13. of course they would know about the sensors!

the whole point is to scare people. if folks just got sick and never knew why, it would be a waste.

I've been reading about this since it happened and none of the experts have suggested false readings. The sensors have been there for a long time and it's never happened before. I've heard plausible explanations about there being minute amounts of the pathogen in soil under natural conditions but no one has suggested a false reading.

[JanusAscending]

8. Heard this before!!

I know Bush is a BASTARD! but Laura was on the Mall that same day, for a book signing event. Think he wants to kill her too? Maybe he'd want to get back at her for NAGGING him about his boozing, or decided he likes one of his other "concubines" better? I DOUBT IT!!! :tinfoilhat: :toast:

[garybeck]

11. maybe Bush didn't know?

[screembloodymurder]

22. They have vaccines

for all kinds of stuff.

[Deere_John]

24. There's a vaccine. Only given to those who expect to be exposed. n/t

[kma3346]

35. I read that Laura Bush canceled out at the last minute....

And never showed up for that event. I'll see if I can find a link...

[area51]

39. "Laura was on the mall"

But Bush is in love only w/himself & power; Laura means nothing to him.

[proReality]

15. There were some *minor* problems with mailed anthrax too...

Republicans didn't get any in their mail, only Democrats. Now how could that happen I wonder.

[LiberalEsto]

10. My husband has been sick for over 3 weeks

since shortly after the Sept. 24 rally. Two courses of Biaxin have failed to help. He is coughing and exhausted. He's starting to wonder about asking to be tested for tularemia.

[Demoiselle]

12. Gosh! Get him tested. And take good care of both of you. (eom)

[LiberalEsto]

16. Thanks, I'll get on his case

He is working long hours on a project that ends in late October but I agree his health is a priority.

[garybeck]

14. PLEASE GET TESTED AND

please report back here to us all what you find. if there is even one single positive test we all need to know immediately.

[bowens43]

17. Me too....

I've been sick since a few days after the demonstration. I just finished a round of anti-biotics (Azithromycin) but I'm still feeling a bit off. I didn't mention tularemia to my doctor.

[Megahurtz]

20. Gad,

Really makes me wonder where this came from........:tinfoilhat:

or does it?

[Deere_John]

19. Tularemia symptoms

Check out symptoms at www.healthtouch.com

TYPHOIDAL (tie-FOY-dul): This type is usually caused by breathing in the tularemia germ, but may also be caused by being bitten by an insect. You may also eat or drink something (meat, soil, water) with the tularemia germ in it. Symptoms of typhoidal tularemia include fever, extreme tiredness, and weight loss. Your glands will not be swollen with this type of tularemia. Almost everyone with this type of tularemia also has pneumonia.

direct link to tularemia page


My father had tularemia when he was a teenager. Not something to be trifled with.

On edit: Further down on the page they actually talk about tularemia as a bioweapon.

[Hissyspit]

40. I can't think of any symptoms I've had.

I was in D.C. that Friday night and on the Mall and in the march after 11 a.m. on Saturday.

[mod mom]

30. Same here. My son was tested (Oct 3)and we still don't have the results

back! My blood is boiling over this!

[anotherdrew]

34. find out if Tularemia infection is a mandatory report to the CDC

many things that you would think are mandatory reporting aren't. You could also ask the lab AND your doctor doing the test if they would do voluntary reporting if it's not mandatory.

If it's not on the mandatory reporting list, and they would choose to voluntarily report it, some places might only send such reports in monthly or even quarterly and some cases could get missed, it's still a bit early I suspect to know if this may have infected some number of people. Doesn't seem like a massive infection rate, I think we would have heard about that by now, but how many light slow infections will never get reported? Could have really been a undocumented 'simulant' test too.

[mod mom]

36. I believe I was told that it is mandatory. Childrens' won't give out

reports, must go through the ordering physician. I will call again tomorrow. Here is the response the CDC sent me after I sent a letter about how poorly the situation was handled (appears to be a form email):

Thank you for your inquiry to CDC-INFO. In response to your request for information on recent reports of tularemia in Washington, D.C., we are pleased to provide you with the following relevant information.

State and local officials, along with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating the source of indications of low levels of a bacterium (germ) that causes tularemia in Washington, D.C. There is nothing to indicate an intentional release of the organism but the investigation is continuing to see if a naturally occurring explanation for the sensor detection can be identified.

The positive indications were found in BioWatch collectors near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on September 24 and 25, 2005. Since then, additional tests from these collectors have all been negative. Public health officials do not believe the finding of low levels of the bacterium near the National Mall represents a public health threat. Tularemia is found naturally in the environment, and health officials are doing additional environmental sampling as well as reviewing other possible causes of the positive reading.

As a precaution, CDC and public health officials are alerting the medical community to be on the lookout for possible cases of Tularemia. No cases of tularemia have been discovered or reported to date.

Although tularemia can have serious health effects, including pneumonia; it is treatable with antibiotics. Tularemia is not known to spread from person to person. CDC and public health officials are recommending that anyone who visited areas around the National Mall between 10 a.m. Saturday, September 24 and 10 a.m. Sunday, September 25 see a health care provider IF they experience symptoms related to tularemia, which include:
Sudden fever
Chills
Headaches
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Dry cough
Conjunctivitis
Pneumonia

Treatment with antibiotics for a period of 10-14 days or more after exposure may be recommended. If you are given antibiotics, it is important to take them according to the instructions you receive. All of the medication you are given must be taken.

People who traveled near the National Mall during this time do NOT need to seek out medical attention if they do not develop symptoms of tularemia.

More information about tularemia is available on the CDC web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_tularemia.htm

Thank you for contacting the CDC-INFO Contact Center. Please do not hesitate to call 1-800-CDC-INFO, e-mail [e-mail], or visit www.cdc.gov if you have any additional questions.

[anotherdrew]

38. well, maybe...

maybe it was just a undisclosed test to see if the sensors really worked. Sounds like the worst window is past, so folks lucky enough to have been there should be safe from this now I hope. Take care :)

[Earth_First]

18. Where can one find related articles (indymedia etc.) relating to this...

that Stanhope says he's been following. I am having trouble finding reports on this...

[EC]

23. On the Department of Health site

http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/publ-rel/html/2005/pr093005a


http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/01/AR2005100101209.html

http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/october2005/081005Graniteshadow.htm

[Earth_First]

26. Thank you...

:hi:

[SupplyConcerns]

25. Who here doubts the NeoCons would do this?

Remember the National Enquirer reporter who published pictures of the Bush daughters drunkenly grinding, making fools of themselves?

He received a personally-addressed letter filled with Anthrax and it killed him.

Why would Al Qaeda attack that National Enquirer writer in Florida?

[BootinUp]

27. who are "the Neocons"

in that statement?

Do you mean 1) a large conspiracy with high level Neocon government officials perhaps including hired mercenaries, or maybe 2) its just some nut in Montana that believes in the Neocon plan and would die happily for it?

(I could definitely believe choice 2).

Personally I never felt that Al Qaeda was responsible for the Anthrax. I did suspect Iran or one of the other States known to pursue biological weapons, but when it became more clear of the sophistication required to make anthrax into an effective weapon I had no problem believing it was a disgruntled American that worked for our own government.

[SupplyConcerns]

28. The anthrax was made at a US govt. lab

In Fort Detrick, MD. This is a stalled investigation that will never find the culprits, because they are most likely inside the US government. Remember that John Ashcroft was going to be the original investigator in the Plame leak case. If he hadn't have had to recuse himself, you can bet there would be no meaningful indictments coming out.

[Megahurtz]

31. Are you talking about

the "Plum leak case"? I'm thinking Plum Island (the old biowarfare lab)
Right across the water is Lyme, Connnecticut, where the first recorded case
of Lyme Disease popped up in 1975.

Pretty strange, huh?:think:

[Julius Civitatus]

29. The ANTHRAX MAILER is still at large!!!

And let me remind you that the bastard targeted before the Democratic leadership and the "librul media." The first time there's a biological alert going off since then is against a large group of anti-war demonstrators.

Something here smells. Time to bring out the tinfoil hat!

:tinfoilhat:

[Jose Diablo]

32. Wasn't Bu$h in Northern Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs

Visiting as they ran a simulated biological attack the same time as the antiwar demonstration in DC?

I remember something about Bu$h going there at that time to be out of the way of during Hurricane Rita's landfall and at the same time there was some chatter here on DU about the simulated bioweapons attack and how strange it was to be happening the same time as the protest.

Or is my memory faulty.

[WhiteTara]

33. He left town around 4pm Friday the 23rd

and returned Sunday the 25th around 5pm. He flew over my head both times.

[Hissyspit]

41. 20% chance it was terrorists; 80% chance it was SOMEONE ELSE

Hmm, now who could that be? Who would want to do that?

[EuroObserver]

42. That SOMEONE ELSE would be a terrorist

by definition: use of violence for political ends.

[Hissyspit]

43. Yeah, meant to put foreign terrorists. Am downgrading probability:

5% foreign terrorists, 10% unofficial domestic terrorists, 85% official domestic terrorists.