Avian Flu as a biological weapon; http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9833
Article; http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/japan-thousands-of-chickens-culled-in-bird-flu-outbreaks-8421.html
Zoonotic Diseases
Diseases discussed here have a history of use as an agent for biological warfare, either in the U.S. or abroad. Its use may have been experimental or actual, and any detrimental consequences upon humans, animals or the environment may have been intentional or not, depending on the circumstances, the point in time, and the nature of the disease.
Showing posts with label Biological Weapons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biological Weapons. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS - HONDURAS (LEMPIRA)
What is EEE? http://www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm
Equine Encephalitis as a WMD; http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/bio_vee.htm
See also; "Operation Whitecoat" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Whitecoat
See also previous CIA operations in this area of Honduras; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Lempira
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
****************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Sun 23 Jan 2011
Source: La Tribuna [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
An outbreak of equine encephalitis is keeping rural people in distress
in this part of the country [Guarita, in the department of Lempira]
because in one week it has killed 20 horses with an equal number of
equine animals ill. Officials of the Secretariat of Health and the
Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) are on alert because
[equine encephalitis] can also infect humans.
The disease is characterized by presentation of intense inflammation
of the brain's grey matter, as well as neuronal degeneration and
hemorrhages. It only causes clinical disease in humans and horses [and
other equines], since in other living beings it [the infection] is
asymptomatic. [This statement is not accurate for West Nile virus
(WNV) infections, which can cause severe signs and fatalities in a
variety of bird species and in squirrels. - Mod.TY]. Nonetheless, when
a human has [equine encephalitis virus infection] it causes 70 to 90
percent fatality, so people should not have contact with infected
animals.
[These statements are not altogether accurate. For WNV or Venezuelan
equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in humans, many infections are only
febrile with no central nervous system (CNS) involvement and very low
case fatality rates (less than one percent for VEEV). Eastern equine
encephalitis virus (EEEV) infections with CNS involvement may have
high case fatality rates in humans. Because they are mosquito-borne,
the risk of EEEV, VEE or WNV transmission by contact to humans from
infected equine animals is nil, but encephalitis due to rabies virus
infection can be directly transmitted. However, clinical signs of
rabies almost certainly would have been mentioned in this report, but
they were not, so rabies involvement in this epizootic is very
unlikely. - Mod.TY].
The illness is bacterial [sic] known as an alphavirus and is
transmitted by mosquitoes. [EEEV and VEEV are alphaviruses, WNV is a
flavivirus. - Mod.TY]
The chief of Epidemiological Health Surveillance, Thomas Guevara,
explained that they have had communication that established that in
just 7 days at least 20 horses have died. Because of that, they have a
team ready that will go to the [affected] area to analyze the cases
that have occurred. The outbreak is in the Guarita community and
vicinity, areas located along the Sumpul River at the border with El
Salvador.
The official stated that to prevent infection, people should stay away
[from areas where affected animals were found? Or from the animals
themselves?] and vaccinate horses. Just contact with the skin of an
[infected] animal or its fluids can cause a person to become infected.
[Untrue. If it is EEEV, VEEV or WNV, they are mosquito transmitted. -
Mod.TY]
If [the infection] is not treated in time, the individual runs the
risk of death, because the infection destroys the grey matter of the
brain and causes neurological damage. [There is no curative treatment
for EEEV, VEEV or WNV CNS infections, only palliative treatment. -
Mod.TY] In previous years, deaths of rural people due to the disease
have been registered, stated the expert.
Guevara told La Tribuna that encephalitis is very common during this
season of the year, so people who work with equines must be aware of
the preventive measures that must be taken. Also, she mentioned that
an epidemiological barrier must be created between Honduras and El
Salvador, since the movement of the disease crossing the border of the
neighboring country and infecting Honduran equines can not be discarded.
The preventive measure is application of vaccines -- trivalent and
inactivated with formalin -- to establish adequate protection against
this virus. [The vaccine] must be applied in 2 doses within a period
of 3-4 weeks. Moreover, the animals must be vaccinated annually. The
[vaccine] must be administered one month before the summer period,
when all types of mosquitoes proliferate.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-ESP
[The Honduras health authorities have not specified the etiology of
the current outbreak. Nonetheless, Venezuelan equine encephalitis
[virus] has circulated in the area, with the occurrence of cyclic
epizootics and human cases. More recently, the possible existence of
epizootics of West Nile virus in equine animals in El Salvador has
been reported based on serological test results. - Mod.JRT]
[Moderator JRT is correct in pointing out that the etiological agent
involved in this outbreak was not specified. Without knowing which of
the potential etiological agents is involved, the only approach for
prevention is to vaccinate the animals against all of the potential
viruses, as the Honduras health authorities propose. Because the
occurrence of outbreaks is sporadic, it is often difficult to convince
horse owners to undergo the trouble and expense of annual vaccinations.
In fairness the the Honduran animal and human health authorities, it
is very difficult to isolate virus from dead animals. One often
arrives too late and finds them not in good condition in the hot
tropical sun. An approach more likely to be successful is to attempt
virus isolation from live, febrile equine pasture mates. Testing of
acute and convalescent sera from surviving animals can also be
helpful, although it is more likely to be complicated in the case of
flavivirus infections, where there may be confusing serological
cross-reactions.
ProMED would be very interested in receiving results of any laboratory
tests that might establish a specific diagnosis for this and any other
current epizootics.
Unfortunately, the La Tribuna article contains a considerable amount
of misinformation, as indicated in the moderator comments in the text
above.
A map showing the location of the Guarita area in southwestern
Honduras can be accessed at
.
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of
Honduras in Central America can be accessed at
. - Mod.TY]
[See also:
2003
----
West Nile virus, equines - El Salvador 20030504.1116
Venezuelan equine enceph. - Nicaragua, Honduras (02): RFI 20030301.0506
Venezuelan equine enceph. - Nicaragua, Honduras:alert 20030226.0483
2002
----
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras 20020320.3775
1999
----
Equine encephalitis - Colombia, Honduras, Brazil 19990302.0294
1998
----
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras (02) 19980815.1619
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras 19980811.1573]
..............................jw/ty/ejp/jw
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to
an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name
name and affiliation, it may not be posted. You may unsub-
scribe at.
For assistance from a human being, send mail to:
.
############################################################
############################################################
Equine Encephalitis as a WMD; http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/bio_vee.htm
See also; "Operation Whitecoat" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Whitecoat
See also previous CIA operations in this area of Honduras; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Lempira
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
****************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Sun 23 Jan 2011
Source: La Tribuna [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
An outbreak of equine encephalitis is keeping rural people in distress
in this part of the country [Guarita, in the department of Lempira]
because in one week it has killed 20 horses with an equal number of
equine animals ill. Officials of the Secretariat of Health and the
Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) are on alert because
[equine encephalitis] can also infect humans.
The disease is characterized by presentation of intense inflammation
of the brain's grey matter, as well as neuronal degeneration and
hemorrhages. It only causes clinical disease in humans and horses [and
other equines], since in other living beings it [the infection] is
asymptomatic. [This statement is not accurate for West Nile virus
(WNV) infections, which can cause severe signs and fatalities in a
variety of bird species and in squirrels. - Mod.TY]. Nonetheless, when
a human has [equine encephalitis virus infection] it causes 70 to 90
percent fatality, so people should not have contact with infected
animals.
[These statements are not altogether accurate. For WNV or Venezuelan
equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in humans, many infections are only
febrile with no central nervous system (CNS) involvement and very low
case fatality rates (less than one percent for VEEV). Eastern equine
encephalitis virus (EEEV) infections with CNS involvement may have
high case fatality rates in humans. Because they are mosquito-borne,
the risk of EEEV, VEE or WNV transmission by contact to humans from
infected equine animals is nil, but encephalitis due to rabies virus
infection can be directly transmitted. However, clinical signs of
rabies almost certainly would have been mentioned in this report, but
they were not, so rabies involvement in this epizootic is very
unlikely. - Mod.TY].
The illness is bacterial [sic] known as an alphavirus and is
transmitted by mosquitoes. [EEEV and VEEV are alphaviruses, WNV is a
flavivirus. - Mod.TY]
The chief of Epidemiological Health Surveillance, Thomas Guevara,
explained that they have had communication that established that in
just 7 days at least 20 horses have died. Because of that, they have a
team ready that will go to the [affected] area to analyze the cases
that have occurred. The outbreak is in the Guarita community and
vicinity, areas located along the Sumpul River at the border with El
Salvador.
The official stated that to prevent infection, people should stay away
[from areas where affected animals were found? Or from the animals
themselves?] and vaccinate horses. Just contact with the skin of an
[infected] animal or its fluids can cause a person to become infected.
[Untrue. If it is EEEV, VEEV or WNV, they are mosquito transmitted. -
Mod.TY]
If [the infection] is not treated in time, the individual runs the
risk of death, because the infection destroys the grey matter of the
brain and causes neurological damage. [There is no curative treatment
for EEEV, VEEV or WNV CNS infections, only palliative treatment. -
Mod.TY] In previous years, deaths of rural people due to the disease
have been registered, stated the expert.
Guevara told La Tribuna that encephalitis is very common during this
season of the year, so people who work with equines must be aware of
the preventive measures that must be taken. Also, she mentioned that
an epidemiological barrier must be created between Honduras and El
Salvador, since the movement of the disease crossing the border of the
neighboring country and infecting Honduran equines can not be discarded.
The preventive measure is application of vaccines -- trivalent and
inactivated with formalin -- to establish adequate protection against
this virus. [The vaccine] must be applied in 2 doses within a period
of 3-4 weeks. Moreover, the animals must be vaccinated annually. The
[vaccine] must be administered one month before the summer period,
when all types of mosquitoes proliferate.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-ESP
[The Honduras health authorities have not specified the etiology of
the current outbreak. Nonetheless, Venezuelan equine encephalitis
[virus] has circulated in the area, with the occurrence of cyclic
epizootics and human cases. More recently, the possible existence of
epizootics of West Nile virus in equine animals in El Salvador has
been reported based on serological test results. - Mod.JRT]
[Moderator JRT is correct in pointing out that the etiological agent
involved in this outbreak was not specified. Without knowing which of
the potential etiological agents is involved, the only approach for
prevention is to vaccinate the animals against all of the potential
viruses, as the Honduras health authorities propose. Because the
occurrence of outbreaks is sporadic, it is often difficult to convince
horse owners to undergo the trouble and expense of annual vaccinations.
In fairness the the Honduran animal and human health authorities, it
is very difficult to isolate virus from dead animals. One often
arrives too late and finds them not in good condition in the hot
tropical sun. An approach more likely to be successful is to attempt
virus isolation from live, febrile equine pasture mates. Testing of
acute and convalescent sera from surviving animals can also be
helpful, although it is more likely to be complicated in the case of
flavivirus infections, where there may be confusing serological
cross-reactions.
ProMED would be very interested in receiving results of any laboratory
tests that might establish a specific diagnosis for this and any other
current epizootics.
Unfortunately, the La Tribuna article contains a considerable amount
of misinformation, as indicated in the moderator comments in the text
above.
A map showing the location of the Guarita area in southwestern
Honduras can be accessed at
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of
Honduras in Central America can be accessed at
[See also:
2003
----
West Nile virus, equines - El Salvador 20030504.1116
Venezuelan equine enceph. - Nicaragua, Honduras (02): RFI 20030301.0506
Venezuelan equine enceph. - Nicaragua, Honduras:alert 20030226.0483
2002
----
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras 20020320.3775
1999
----
Equine encephalitis - Colombia, Honduras, Brazil 19990302.0294
1998
----
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras (02) 19980815.1619
Venezuelan equine encephalitis - Honduras 19980811.1573]
..............................jw/ty/ejp/jw
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to
an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name
name and affiliation, it may not be posted. You may unsub-
scribe at
For assistance from a human being, send mail to:
############################################################
############################################################
Friday, December 31, 2010
The most important disease you probably never heard of

Welcome to Johne’s (“yo-knees”), the most important disease that you probably never heard of. It is a serious, debilitating and sometimes fatal illness of cattle, goats, and sheep (among other animals), which the livestock and dairy industry is desperate to keep out of the public consciousness, despite the fact that it costs industrial agriculture many millions of dollars every year.
The reason for such industry reticence is that Johne’s Disease in livestock is very similar – and possibly even identical – to Crohn’s Disease in people, which currently afflicts an estimated 500,000 sufferers in North America alone, causing severe ulcerations of the gastro-intestinal tract, immense pain, and loss of appetite and weight, often requiring surgical removal of the damaged bowel. And the big, dirty secret of today’s industrial dairy and meat producers is that animals suffering from flagrant Johne’s Disease currently provide milk and meat directly to the American consumer.
In short, we eat lots of very, very sick cows, animals so ill that if you knew you were eating them, you wouldn’t.
Full article;
http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/the-most-important-disease-you-probably-never-heard-of/30509
Johnes Information Center; http://www.johnes.org/zoonotic/index.html
Another good reason to quit eating meat and dairy...if you care about your health and the health of your children and their childrens children....and so on.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Cholera Outbreak Threatens Hatians Existance / Notes From Penn
Cholera as a Biological Weapon; http://www.topix.com/forum/afam/T7C5CSLRAH2MQ4AU7/p15#lastPost

Dear Friend,
Haiti is now facing its worst health crisis since the earthquake -- the cholera epidemic that has already claimed over 250 lives, with another 3,000 cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
This fast spreading cholera outbreak—the first to hit Haiti in 50 years – has reached Port-Au-Prince, and J/P has already stepped to the forefront of the action. We are currently fighting a two front battle of treatment and prevention. We've deployed teams and medical supplies to the worst hit areas in the North, while also taking extensive precautions in Petionville camp, which we manage.
Petionville is still initially cholera free. J/P HRO's proactive measures include building an isolation ward separate from our hospital with a capacity for 100 patients and stocking it with the fluids and medical supplies needed for treatment. We’ve also installed additional handwashing stations in camp, and mounted massive education campaigns about hygiene & sanitation not only in the camp but also the surrounding communities.

This outbreak has the potential to wreck this already devastated country, but if we act quickly, we can make a tremendous difference. That's why I'm writing to you to request your immediate help.
Here's what you can do:
Make a contribution to J/P HRO. No matter how much you can afford to give, every dollar of your contribution goes directly to helping the people of Haiti.
Start fundraising for J/P HRO. Help bring your friends and family into the fight against the cholera outbreak in Haiti by setting up your personal fundraising page and asking them to contribute.

In addition, if you work in the medical community, you can help by:
Donating Supplies: Click here for a list of medical supplies we urgently need to fight the cholera outbreak.
Becoming a Medical Volunteer: All sorts of licensed medical personnel are needed in Haiti, including pharmacists. Unfortunately we cannot take EMT's, medical students or under 3rd year resident MD's. This work is first and foremost about saving lives, not a learning experience, so we are looking for people who can manage these roles well in a high stress emergency environment.
Please also be sure to forward this email on to friends, family members or colleagues who may be able to help financially or by volunteering.
We are dependent upon our incredible supporters to achieve what we do. Now, we face our greatest crisis since the earthquake. Please, do what you can today to help us fight this dangerous outbreak of cholera in Haiti.
Thank you for everything you do.
Sean Penn
CEO, J/P HRO
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