I posted on this question Oct 21, saying: [Rep Frist's (R-TN) comment] leads one to question the descriptions of anthrax as "weaponized" and "non-weaponized", particularly as there are several dimensions of weaponization. The lesser is spore size, with 5 micron being the preferred form for inducing inhalation anthrax. The greater is antibiotic resistance, and it appears that this is the criterion on which statements of "non-weaponized anthrax" are being made. Truth seems to be that resistance is secondary to spore size given the difficulty of treating advanced cases of inhalation anthrax. My suggestion to the press would be to disaggregate the term "weaponized" to its components: inhalable, and antibiotic resistant. This provides the public with more useful information: the bacterium is or is not a grave infection threat (inhalable), and the bacterium is or is not treatable (resistant). This is actionable information: inhalable, but nonresistant, anthrax means that individuals should be aware of respiratory illness symptoms and submit for early diagnosis and/or treatment. Today's SF Chronicle reports: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/10/28/MN188786.DTL&t ype=printable When it comes to describing anthrax, it is as if they are speaking different languages. "Weapons-grade material," Gephardt, the House Democratic leader from Missouri, told reporters this week, describing the potency of the anthrax in a letter opened in Daschle's office. "Common variety," Senate Majority Leader Daschle from South Dakota said of the same white powder. Scientists say both are right. The material was weapons grade, in the sense that it was finely milled and aerosolized to make it easier to infiltrate a victim's lungs. At the same time, it was a common variety that was not genetically altered, making it fully treatable with common antibiotics. So which statement is more responsible? [...] "I don't think 'weaponized' has any medical or scientific value," [Ridge] explained late this week. "It seems to have different meanings . . . to different people." The discrepancy in labeling the potency of the poison is a perfect illustration of the challenges confronting authorities as they try to communicate complex, evolving and grim information on live television, often on an hourly basis. The failure to use precise language can have fatal consequences. On Oct. 18, three days after Daschle's letter was opened, Postmaster General John Potter invited the press into a mail facility in southeast Washington, and told the assembled reporters and workers that "there is only a minute chance" that anthrax spores could have escaped from envelopes and harmed postal workers. Today, Potter is on a 60-day dose of antibiotics. So are the reporters and anyone else who attended the news conference, including Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams and his 80-year-old mother. Two workers at the facility have since died. Authorities knew at the time that the refined spores were highly potent, but based on previous experience in New Jersey and Florida, had no reason to believe they would contaminate the Washington mail house. And they wanted to calm anxious postal workers. "The administration has been forthright in making information known as soon as information is available," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. "It is the nature of this type of attack involving anthrax that information develops over time." Nevertheless, there is frustration from those who feel that soft words intended to soothe might instead lull people into a false sense of complacency. "I think we've got to stop parsing words and trying to be anything other than accurate about what this is," Gephardt said of the biological attack on the Capitol. "This is highly sophisticated material. It is small in size and it aerosolizes, and so you've got to be careful in the way it can be handled. "I believe people are smart. If you arm them (people) with accurate information, you have a better chance of preventing successful attacks," Gephardt said. Peace. -- Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/ What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand? Home of the brave http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/ Land of the free Free Dmitry! Boycott Adobe! Repeal the DMCA! http://www.freesklyarov.org Geek for Hire http://kmself.home.netcom.com/resume.html [demime 0.97c removed an attachment of type application/pgp-signature]