Germ Warfare Agent Detected at DC Demonstration

[proldic]

Could this be a limited-hangout attempt to shift public opinion away from any inquiry into the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>real</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> germ warfare being used? Or is it just a fear tactic to lessen turnout? Or was it really detected by a homeland security agent monitoring some device, and from a 3rd party?<br><br>Associated Press P 10/01/05<br><br>WASHINGTON Officials are revealing that air sensors on the National Mall detected a possible disease agent last weekend during the Iraq war demonstrations.<br><br>Health officials say the sensors showed signs of a low level presence of Tularemia bacterium. Tularemia can be treated with antibiotics and is not contagious.<br><br>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted state health officials in D-C, Maryland and Virginia. But officials say no one has reported symptoms of the disease, and subsequent air tests have come back negative.<br><br>D-C Department of Health Director Doctor Gregg Pane tells W-T-O-P Radio the city was notified just today that <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>a Department of Homeland Security air sensor</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> detected the biohazard. Officials say Tularemia is found naturally in the environment.<br><br>Health officials are encouraging doctors to be on alert for any signs of the disease. Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headaches, joint pain and pneumonia.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=3923145&nav=0Rcx">www.wric.com/Global/story...5&nav=0Rcx</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[heath7]

Now aren't you a little more afraid to go to the next protest? Do you think you'll take the kids?<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :| --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/indifferent.gif ALT=":|"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[plsmith]

This sounds like "news" that isn't <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>news, </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>per se, </em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> but rather an attempt to scare people whose reading comprehension is not all one might hope it could be.<br><br>These two sentences...<br><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Health officials say the sensors showed signs of a low level presence of Tularemia bacterium. </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Officials say Tularemia is found naturally in the environment. </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br>... disqualify the information as "news" but the overall tone of the story *does* tap one's 'fear factor'.<br><br><br>In reality, "sensors" could (and do) find low levels (and even high ones, sometimes) of all kinds of health hazards. "THEY" don't routinely tell us how much friable asbestos is swirling throughout the ventilation systems of aging schools and shopping malls; heck, we'd all homeschool our kids and never buy another retail doodad...<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[*]

<br><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"In reality, "sensors" could (and do) find low levels (and even high ones, sometimes) of all kinds of health hazards. "THEY" don't routinely tell us how much friable asbestos is swirling throughout the ventilation systems of aging schools and shopping malls; heck, we'd all homeschool our kids and never buy another retail doodad..."<br></em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br> Well put, plsmith! <br><br> Remember the 'safe' air in lower Manhatten after 911?<br><br> Seems to me it's the Health Censors (the gate keepers) we have to worry about.<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[Project Willow]

Another anecdote here...<br><br>In 1999 after WTO my partner and I came down with a horrible bug, standard flu symptoms but with a very high fever. I went to a clinic and the practitioners said they had been overwhelmed with people complaining of the same symptoms. They called it WTO flu. I asked around in some activist circles and it did seem that a disproportionate number of people became ill after the protests. The clinicians put it all down to exposure to crowds and stress. <p></p><i></i>