18 October 2001
Fact Sheet: State Department on Chemical-Biological Agents
(Americans urged to stay informed, be prepared) (880)
The State Department issued the following fact sheet on
Chemical-Biological Agents October 18.
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.
FACT SHEET
CHEMICAL -- BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
The recent terrorist threats and confirmed cases of exposure to
anthrax have caused an increase in anxiety over the possibility of
chemical and biological attacks (CBA). Currently, the method of
delivery of anthrax has been by letter or package. While the risk of
such attacks is limited, it cannot be excluded. As always, the
Department will promptly share with American citizens overseas any
credible information about threats to their safety. Americans should
stay informed and be prepared for any eventuality.
In 1999, the Department of Defense announced its intention to commence
the Family and Force Protection Initiative (FFPI) in order to provide
enhanced protection to the dependents of U.S. military service members
and to civilian Department of Defense (DOD) employees and their
families. This program was first implemented for U.S. Forces Korea.
The Department of State has had a chemical and biological
countermeasure program since 1998, when it began to deploy chemical
antidotes and antibiotics to selected posts abroad. While we have no
information to indicate there is an imminent threat from use of
anthrax or other biological agents as a weapon against our overseas
missions at this time, the Department is expanding its countermeasure
program. As a precaution, the Department requested our missions
overseas to stock a three-day supply of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin
for all individuals who work in or frequent the missions.
This small supply of ciprofloxacin is being pre-positioned to ensure
rapid access to this protective antibiotic for our employees in case
of an Anthrax exposure in an overseas U.S. Government (USG) facility
and would allow the mission sufficient time to provide access to care
for all individuals exposed while securing additional supplies of
antibiotics. Once an exposure is suspected, all individuals who had
been exposed in our workplace would be provided antibiotics pending a
full investigation of the exposure. This would include any private
American citizen present in the facility at the time of exposure.
Again, if the Department becomes aware of any specific and credible
threat to the safety and security of American citizens abroad, that
information will be provided to them promptly.
Exposures to CBA that occur outside USG facilities would require the
involvement of local public health authorities who would provide
information and if necessary, protective antibiotics to the general
public. Ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics effective against Anthrax,
including doxycycline and amoxicillin are available with a
prescription in most pharmacies throughout the world.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the lead
government agency on infectious diseases, including
chemical/biological agents (CBA). For detailed information on CBA,
including Anthrax, inquirers are referred to the CDC Internet home
page at http://www.cdc.gov. The CDC's international travelers hotline
telephone number is 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax:
1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299).
As always, American citizens should review their own personal security
situations and take those precautions they deem appropriate to ensure
their well-being.
Some general information on chemical-biological agents (CBA) follows:
-- Biological agents can be dispersed by an aerosol spray that must be
inhaled. However, these agents can also be used to contaminate food,
water and other products. Attention to basic food hygiene when
traveling abroad is very important.
-- Some chemical agents may be volatile -- evaporating rapidly to form
clouds of agent. Others may be persistent. These agents may act
directly on the skin, lungs, eyes, respiratory tract or be absorbed
through your skin and lungs causing injury. Choking and nerve agents
damage the soft tissue in these organs.
-- When properly used, appropriate masks are effective protection to
prevent the inhalation of either biological or chemical agents;
however this assumes an adequate warning. Gas masks alone do not
protect against agents that act through skin absorption. Those who
wish to acquire protective equipment for personal use should contact
commercial vendors.
-- There is an incubation period after exposure to biological agents.
It is essential that you seek appropriate care for illnesses acquired
while traveling abroad to assure prompt diagnosis and treatment.
-- One of the biological warfare agents is the spore-forming bacterium
that causes Anthrax, an acute infectious disease. It should be noted,
however, that effective dispersal of the Anthrax bacteria is
difficult.
-- Anthrax is treatable if that treatment is initiated promptly after
exposure. The post-exposure treatment consists of certain antibiotics
administered in combination with the vaccine.
-- An anthrax vaccine that confers protective immunity does exist, but
is not readily available to private parties. Efficacy and safety of
use of this vaccine for persons under 18 or over 65 and pregnant women
have not been determined.
-- The anthrax vaccine is produced exclusively by Bioport under
contract to the Department of Defense. Virtually all vaccine produced
in the United States is under Defense Department contract primarily
for military use and a small number of other official government uses.
-- For additional information, please consult your health care
provider or local health authority.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
