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Tuesday, April 01, 2003

If you are a medical practitioner Consider Bookmarking this:

A deadly respiratory infection, provisionally called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), is spreading quickly around the world. Reports have come in from Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam, prompting the World Health Organization to issue a global alert for the first time in more than a decade.

Bioterrorism Biological, chemical weapons: Arm yourself with information

Bioterrorism. Germ warfare. Chemical agents. Sars All are names for a different type of warfare, one in which the enemy is invisible, microscopic and deadly.
Experts say the average U.S. resident's risk of exposure to biological and chemical agents is low. But knowing that doesn't necessarily allay your fears. You want to make sure you and your family are protected against anthrax or other bacteria, viruses and chemicals that might be used as weapons. Your first line of defense is not panicking, but arming yourself with information.
Microbiology and infectious disease experts say that the germs of greatest concern include those that cause anthrax, smallpox, plague, botulism and tularemia.
Anthrax is caused by bacteria that normally reside in soil in the form of microscopic spores. The spores transform into the anthrax bacteria, which produce a toxin that can be fatal to humans and animals.

· Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [NLM]