on Tue, Oct 09, 2001 at 10:23:04AM -0700, Eric Cordian (emc@artifact.psychedelic.net) wrote:
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/31567.htm
The New York Post is reporting that a female librarian at American Media has pneumonia, and has tested positive for anthrax.
There's still no evidence, according to the FBI, that this anthrax outbreak was the result of criminal activity.
Legionaire's Disease first appeared to be a terror weapon when significant numbers of cases appeared at a convention center. Later we learned that it was simply a virulent form of pneumonia that liked to live in standing water in building air conditioning systems.
Pneumonia is a symptom, not an infectuous agent, describing an
inflammation (and often accumulation of fluids) in the lungs. Mortality
is high unless treated, frequently with antibiotics. Infectious agents
include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Noninfectious causes include oil
aspiration, radiation, chemicals, vegetable dusts, and silo-filler's
disease (Source: Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary).
Legioniare's disease is caused by a bacterial infection:
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/ideas/factsht/legion.htm
Legionellosis is an acute bacterial disease caused by Legionella
pneumophila, a poorly staining, Gram-negative bacillus commonly
found in water. Of the fourteen currently recognized serogroups of
L. pneumophila bacteria, serogroup 1 is most commonly associated
with outbreaks and sporadic cases of legionellosis. Legionellosis
may occur in two primary forms: Legionnaire's disease and Pontiac
fever. Legionnaire's disease is the most common form of
legionellosis.
Peace.
--
Karsten M. Self