This article showed up on a google search ... FWIW
by nessie • Wednesday December 04, 2002 at 11:30 AM
I found this on a listserv. It came from a retired physician named Col. (Dr.) Byron Weeks.
NEW BIOWEAPON: EBOLAPOX (BLACKPOX)
Are these recent cases in Pakistan caused by a known new bioweapon--Ebolapox? This disease is a genetic recombination of smallpox and Ebola. It would seem likely that it is much hardier than Ebola, more like smallpox, with much more resistance to sunlight, heat, cold, drying, and humidity. Like smallpox, it could lie dormant for weeks in the air. In the 10 cases, there was blackening of the face and to some extent, the skin of the body.
Ebola is a hemorrhagic virus shaped like a hocky stick, and belongs to one of four groups of the category, family Filoviridae: Ebola hemorrhagic fever was first recognized in the western equatorial province of the Sudan and the nearby region of Zaire in 1976. A second outbreak occurred in Sudan in 1979, and in 1995 a large outbreak (316 cases) developed in Kikwit, Zaire, from a single index case. Subsequent epidemics have occurred in Gabon and the Ivory Coast. The African strains cause severe disease and death. It is not known why this disease appears infrequently. A related virus (Ebola Reston) was isolated from monkeys imported into the United States from the Philippines in 1989, and and they subsequently developed hemorrhagic fever. While subclinical infections occurred among exposed animal handlers, Ebola Reston has not been identified as a human pathogen.
Ebola Marburg epidemics have occurred on six occasions: five times in Africa, and once in Europe. The first recognized outbreak occurred in Marburg, Germany, and Yugoslavia, among people exposed to African green monkeys, and resulted in 31 cases and 7 deaths. Filoviruses can be spread from human to human by direct contact with infected blood, secretions, organs, or semen. Dr Ken Alibek believes that Russia may have developed a strain that is transmissible via the respiratory route. The natural reservoirs of the filoviruses are unknown, although some suspect a species of bat in Africa with exposure to bat droppings.
CLINICAL FEATURES
The clinical syndrome that these viruses may cause is generally referred to as viral hemorrhagic fever, or VHF. The target organ in the VHF syndrome mainly small capillary vessels. Attachment of the virus to the lining cells results in leakage of blood and serum into the surrounding tissue. Antibody directed against the virus enhances uptake by white corpuscles (WBC), and then the cell is dissolved releasing body defense mechanisms called cytokines. The dissolved WBC results in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-coagulants, and anticoagulants, which in turn result in vascular injury to the capillary lining cells and marked permeability (leakage), with complement activation, and a systemic coagulation defect (DIC). The body actually begins to dissolve before your eyes, rapidly becoming a skin sack of bloody fluid and bone.
Common symptoms beginning 2-3 days after exposure are fever, headache, confusion, muscle pain, and prostration. Physical examination may reveal only conjunctival redness, mild hypotension, flushing, and small skin hemorrhages (petichiae). Full-blown VHF typically evolves to shock and generalized mucous membrane hemorrhage, and often is accompanied by evidence of lung, bone marrow, kidney, and neurologic involvement. Kidney failure is proportional to general capillary damage.
Most varieties of hemorrhagic fever are notable for pulmonary (lung) involvement, and a biphasic illness with subsequent brain damage. With involvement of lung capillaries, there is rapidly progressive and severe pulmonary capillary leak, which presents as ARDS or Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, similar to what is seen with Hantavirus. Subclinical or clinical pulmonary edema occurs very commonly in Ebola. Liquifaction of internal organs is a terminal event. Mortality may be substantial, ranging from 50 to 90 percent among Ebola victims.
DIAGNOSIS
Large numbers of military personnel presenting with VHF manifestations in the same geographic area over a short time period should lead treating medical care providers to suspect either a natural outbreak in an endemic setting, or possibly a biowarfare attack, particularly if this type of disease does not occur naturally in the local area. VHF should be suspected in any patient presenting with a severe febrile illness and evidence of vascular involvement (postural hypotension--low BP, small skin hemorrhages, easy bleeding, flushing of face and chest, non-dependent edema) who has traveled to an area where the virus is known to occur, or where intelligence information suggests a biological warfare threat. Symptoms and signs suggesting additional organ system involvement are common (headache, photophobia, pharyngitis, cough, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, tingling , dizziness, confusion, tremor), but usually do not dominate the picture with the exceptions listed above under "Clinical Features."
The clinical laboratory can be very helpful. Definitive diagnosis in an individual case rests on specific virologic diagnosis. Diagnosis by virus cultivation and identification will require 3 to 10 days or longer. Specialized microbiologic containment is required for safe handling of these viruses. Appropriate precautions should be observed in collection, handling, shipping, and processing of diagnostic samples. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, Georgia) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID, Frederick, Maryland) have diagnostic laboratories functioning at the highest (BL-4 or P-4) containment level.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
General principles of supportive care apply to pulse, blood pressure , blood counts, and pulmonary, and neurologic manifestations of VHF, regardless of the specific causative agent. Only intensive care will save the most severely ill patients. Health care providers employing vigorous IV fluid resuscitation of hypotensive patients must be mindful of the propensity of some VHFs for pulmonary capillary leak. Pressor agents are frequently required to support blood pressure. Antiviral agents such as ribavirin and fresh or frozen plasma may be of some benefit to replace some of the consumed clotting factors.
ISOLATION AND CONTAINMENT
These viruses pose special challenges for hospital infection control. VHF patients generally have significant quantities of virus in blood and often other secretions. Special caution must be exercised in handling sharps, needles, and other potential sources of parenteral exposure from contact with the patients blood. Strict adherence to standard precautions will prevent nosocomial (in hospital) transmission of most VHFs. Lassa Fever, Congo-Crimean Fever, Ebola, and Marburg viruses may be particularly prone to aerosol spread. Secondary infections among contacts and medical personnel who were not parenterally exposed are well documented, and evidently have inhaled viruses suspended in the air.
With Ebola, the incubation period is so short and death is so rapid, that by the time health authorities know what hit us, everyone would be dead who was exposed. Inhalation of only 5 viruses (or virions) are usually sufficient to be infectious. Thus, even the chemical mask gives uncertain protection. Any exposure would require a Level 4 biohazard protection suite and self contained breathing apparatus for assured protection. The only real way to avoid Ebola is to flee the urban areas as soon as the situation is known. Short of that, the people should avoid football games, concerts, subways, convention halls, hospitals and schools, wherever large crowds make an inviting target.
In a village setting, the disease tends to burn out quickly because of rapid incapacity and death of the victims. The picture may be different in large cities with numerous cases and more people exposed.
Our health authorities have been remiss in getting us prepared for NBC warfare.. There is a biocensor that can do air analysis for rapid identification of plague, anthrax, tuleremia, and Botulism toxin, but not for any of the viral diseases. But where are the units available? None are, except for some research by the army.
It is difficult to know how much information to disseminate to a panicky, and generally unsophisticated public. Then, of course, we don't dare announce anything that might hurt the economy and curtail the profits of the Banksters.
Ten children have recently died in Pakistan, near the Indus River.
Dr. Patricia Doyle, epidemiologist in New York State says: Given the fact that Ebolapox or Blackpox is a known bioweapon and, as far as I know never before contracted as a disease by humans, there are very little facts that we know about the epidemiology of the disease and pathogenisis.
So, we can only assume. Here is a passage from Dr. Ken Alibek's interview: A very brief assumption on how Ebolapox may affect humans. There is liquifaction of internal organs, and marked hemorrhaging from mouth, nose, in the skin, and from the rectum.
"The Ebolapox could produce the form of smallpox called blackpox, ( Alibek says). "Blackpox, sometimes known as hemorrhagic smallpox, is the most severe type of smallpox disease. In a blackpox infection, the skin does not develop blisters. Instead, the skin becomes dark all over. Blood vessels
leak, resulting in severe internal hemorrhaging. Blackpox is invariably fatal. "As a weapon, the Ebolapox would give the hemorrhages and high mortality rate of Ebola virus, which would give you a blackpox, plus the very high contagiousness of smallpox," Alibek said.
http://www.infowar.com/wmd/wmd_050898b_j.html-ssi
[If we do hear that this is Ebolapox or blackpox, then we may wonder WHY the dozen+ microbiologists were recently murdered says epidemiologist, Dr. Patricia Doyle.]
Col. (Dr.) Byron Weeks
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/1547498.php
by nessie • Wednesday December 04, 2002 at 11:30 AM
I found this on a listserv. It came from a retired physician named Col. (Dr.) Byron Weeks.
NEW BIOWEAPON: EBOLAPOX (BLACKPOX)
Are these recent cases in Pakistan caused by a known new bioweapon--Ebolapox? This disease is a genetic recombination of smallpox and Ebola. It would seem likely that it is much hardier than Ebola, more like smallpox, with much more resistance to sunlight, heat, cold, drying, and humidity. Like smallpox, it could lie dormant for weeks in the air. In the 10 cases, there was blackening of the face and to some extent, the skin of the body.
Ebola is a hemorrhagic virus shaped like a hocky stick, and belongs to one of four groups of the category, family Filoviridae: Ebola hemorrhagic fever was first recognized in the western equatorial province of the Sudan and the nearby region of Zaire in 1976. A second outbreak occurred in Sudan in 1979, and in 1995 a large outbreak (316 cases) developed in Kikwit, Zaire, from a single index case. Subsequent epidemics have occurred in Gabon and the Ivory Coast. The African strains cause severe disease and death. It is not known why this disease appears infrequently. A related virus (Ebola Reston) was isolated from monkeys imported into the United States from the Philippines in 1989, and and they subsequently developed hemorrhagic fever. While subclinical infections occurred among exposed animal handlers, Ebola Reston has not been identified as a human pathogen.
Ebola Marburg epidemics have occurred on six occasions: five times in Africa, and once in Europe. The first recognized outbreak occurred in Marburg, Germany, and Yugoslavia, among people exposed to African green monkeys, and resulted in 31 cases and 7 deaths. Filoviruses can be spread from human to human by direct contact with infected blood, secretions, organs, or semen. Dr Ken Alibek believes that Russia may have developed a strain that is transmissible via the respiratory route. The natural reservoirs of the filoviruses are unknown, although some suspect a species of bat in Africa with exposure to bat droppings.
CLINICAL FEATURES
The clinical syndrome that these viruses may cause is generally referred to as viral hemorrhagic fever, or VHF. The target organ in the VHF syndrome mainly small capillary vessels. Attachment of the virus to the lining cells results in leakage of blood and serum into the surrounding tissue. Antibody directed against the virus enhances uptake by white corpuscles (WBC), and then the cell is dissolved releasing body defense mechanisms called cytokines. The dissolved WBC results in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-coagulants, and anticoagulants, which in turn result in vascular injury to the capillary lining cells and marked permeability (leakage), with complement activation, and a systemic coagulation defect (DIC). The body actually begins to dissolve before your eyes, rapidly becoming a skin sack of bloody fluid and bone.
Common symptoms beginning 2-3 days after exposure are fever, headache, confusion, muscle pain, and prostration. Physical examination may reveal only conjunctival redness, mild hypotension, flushing, and small skin hemorrhages (petichiae). Full-blown VHF typically evolves to shock and generalized mucous membrane hemorrhage, and often is accompanied by evidence of lung, bone marrow, kidney, and neurologic involvement. Kidney failure is proportional to general capillary damage.
Most varieties of hemorrhagic fever are notable for pulmonary (lung) involvement, and a biphasic illness with subsequent brain damage. With involvement of lung capillaries, there is rapidly progressive and severe pulmonary capillary leak, which presents as ARDS or Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, similar to what is seen with Hantavirus. Subclinical or clinical pulmonary edema occurs very commonly in Ebola. Liquifaction of internal organs is a terminal event. Mortality may be substantial, ranging from 50 to 90 percent among Ebola victims.
DIAGNOSIS
Large numbers of military personnel presenting with VHF manifestations in the same geographic area over a short time period should lead treating medical care providers to suspect either a natural outbreak in an endemic setting, or possibly a biowarfare attack, particularly if this type of disease does not occur naturally in the local area. VHF should be suspected in any patient presenting with a severe febrile illness and evidence of vascular involvement (postural hypotension--low BP, small skin hemorrhages, easy bleeding, flushing of face and chest, non-dependent edema) who has traveled to an area where the virus is known to occur, or where intelligence information suggests a biological warfare threat. Symptoms and signs suggesting additional organ system involvement are common (headache, photophobia, pharyngitis, cough, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, tingling , dizziness, confusion, tremor), but usually do not dominate the picture with the exceptions listed above under "Clinical Features."
The clinical laboratory can be very helpful. Definitive diagnosis in an individual case rests on specific virologic diagnosis. Diagnosis by virus cultivation and identification will require 3 to 10 days or longer. Specialized microbiologic containment is required for safe handling of these viruses. Appropriate precautions should be observed in collection, handling, shipping, and processing of diagnostic samples. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, Georgia) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID, Frederick, Maryland) have diagnostic laboratories functioning at the highest (BL-4 or P-4) containment level.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
General principles of supportive care apply to pulse, blood pressure , blood counts, and pulmonary, and neurologic manifestations of VHF, regardless of the specific causative agent. Only intensive care will save the most severely ill patients. Health care providers employing vigorous IV fluid resuscitation of hypotensive patients must be mindful of the propensity of some VHFs for pulmonary capillary leak. Pressor agents are frequently required to support blood pressure. Antiviral agents such as ribavirin and fresh or frozen plasma may be of some benefit to replace some of the consumed clotting factors.
ISOLATION AND CONTAINMENT
These viruses pose special challenges for hospital infection control. VHF patients generally have significant quantities of virus in blood and often other secretions. Special caution must be exercised in handling sharps, needles, and other potential sources of parenteral exposure from contact with the patients blood. Strict adherence to standard precautions will prevent nosocomial (in hospital) transmission of most VHFs. Lassa Fever, Congo-Crimean Fever, Ebola, and Marburg viruses may be particularly prone to aerosol spread. Secondary infections among contacts and medical personnel who were not parenterally exposed are well documented, and evidently have inhaled viruses suspended in the air.
With Ebola, the incubation period is so short and death is so rapid, that by the time health authorities know what hit us, everyone would be dead who was exposed. Inhalation of only 5 viruses (or virions) are usually sufficient to be infectious. Thus, even the chemical mask gives uncertain protection. Any exposure would require a Level 4 biohazard protection suite and self contained breathing apparatus for assured protection. The only real way to avoid Ebola is to flee the urban areas as soon as the situation is known. Short of that, the people should avoid football games, concerts, subways, convention halls, hospitals and schools, wherever large crowds make an inviting target.
In a village setting, the disease tends to burn out quickly because of rapid incapacity and death of the victims. The picture may be different in large cities with numerous cases and more people exposed.
Our health authorities have been remiss in getting us prepared for NBC warfare.. There is a biocensor that can do air analysis for rapid identification of plague, anthrax, tuleremia, and Botulism toxin, but not for any of the viral diseases. But where are the units available? None are, except for some research by the army.
It is difficult to know how much information to disseminate to a panicky, and generally unsophisticated public. Then, of course, we don't dare announce anything that might hurt the economy and curtail the profits of the Banksters.
Ten children have recently died in Pakistan, near the Indus River.
Dr. Patricia Doyle, epidemiologist in New York State says: Given the fact that Ebolapox or Blackpox is a known bioweapon and, as far as I know never before contracted as a disease by humans, there are very little facts that we know about the epidemiology of the disease and pathogenisis.
So, we can only assume. Here is a passage from Dr. Ken Alibek's interview: A very brief assumption on how Ebolapox may affect humans. There is liquifaction of internal organs, and marked hemorrhaging from mouth, nose, in the skin, and from the rectum.
"The Ebolapox could produce the form of smallpox called blackpox, ( Alibek says). "Blackpox, sometimes known as hemorrhagic smallpox, is the most severe type of smallpox disease. In a blackpox infection, the skin does not develop blisters. Instead, the skin becomes dark all over. Blood vessels
leak, resulting in severe internal hemorrhaging. Blackpox is invariably fatal. "As a weapon, the Ebolapox would give the hemorrhages and high mortality rate of Ebola virus, which would give you a blackpox, plus the very high contagiousness of smallpox," Alibek said.
http://www.infowar.com/wmd/wmd_050898b_j.html-ssi
[If we do hear that this is Ebolapox or blackpox, then we may wonder WHY the dozen+ microbiologists were recently murdered says epidemiologist, Dr. Patricia Doyle.]
Col. (Dr.) Byron Weeks
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/1547498.php
