Research
Biological Warfare
Is Anthrax Just The Beginning?
 10-19-2001
What could be deadlier than anthrax? Try smallpox and the
bubonic plague.
Jim Matthews, an associate professor of pharmacy at Northeastern
University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences, says that
though the use of anthrax as a bioterrorist weapon is haunting,
it is not nearly as frightening as the threat of attacks
using smallpox or the bubonic plague.
"Anthrax
is not easily transferred, so to develop it as a weapon
is difficult, and in most cases, it responds quite well
to antibiotics," said Matthews. "However, what
I would be more fearful and weary of is an outbreak of smallpox
or the bubonic plague, caused by terrorist acts. Smallpox,
for example, is contagious and there is no effective treatment
available. Even as we speak, some federal officials have
reason to believe that Iraq is developing it as a biological
weapon."
While Matthews believes that it is important for government
to focus its energies on investigating the recent bioterrorist
mailings and ensuring the availability of anthrax antibiotics
and vaccines, he believes it is imperative that government
accelerates work on protection against untreatable viruses.
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"It's
great that federal officials are working to have the anthrax antibiotic,
Ciprofloxacin readily available for those believed to be infected,"
said Matthews. ("Incidentally the only anthrax vaccine manufactured
in the U.S. by Michigan-based BioPort Corporation and sponsored
by the Department of Defense, is only available through the Center
for Disease Control and to members of the military.")
"However,
contingency plans should be in the works to guard against other
bioterrorist threats such as smallpox," warns Matthews.
Note:
This article has been adapted from a news release issued by Northeastern
University for journalists and other members of the public. If
you wish to quote from any part of this story, please credit Northeastern
University as the original source. This story was taken from Science
Daily, www.sciencedaily.com.
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