Senator Eyes Terrorists for W. Nile

Max · 09-13-2002, 10:51 AM

Senator Eyes Terrorists for W. Nile
Fri Sep 13, 7:06 AM ET
By DAVID GRAM, Associated Press Writer

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A senator who was the target of an anthrax-laden envelope sent to his Washington office last year has raised the possibility that terrorists may be responsible for the spread of another disease: the West Nile virus ( news - web sites).

Sen. Patrick Leahy called on the government to examine whether terrorism is involved in a West Nile outbreak that has killed 54 people this year.

"I think we have to ask ourselves: Is it coincidence that we're seeing such an increase in West Nile virus or is that something that's being tested as a biological weapon against us?" Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee ( news - web sites), said Thursday.

The Vermont Democrat made the remarks on a radio talk show broadcast on WKDR in Burlington and WDEV in Waterbury. In a statement issued later by his office, Leahy said he could point to no specific evidence that the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus was linked to terrorism.

A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( news - web sites) said Thursday that there is no evidence to suggest an act of bioterrorism.

The spokesman, Tom Skinner, said the cycle of the disease and its transmission - from mosquitoes to birds and to people - is what one would expect with West Nile. "All of that points to this being a naturally occurring outbreak," he said.

According to the CDC, nationally, 1,295 people have contracted the disease and 54 have died.

Leahy's office also released excerpts Thursday from previous news and congressional committee reports saying officials had downplayed the fear that the spread of West Nile virus might be the work of bioterrorists.

"In the times in which we live, questions about our vulnerabilities are unavoidable, and finding all the answers we can is more important than ever," Leahy said in the statement. "I have no way of knowing what the answers are, but some legitimate questions have been asked, especially before September 11 last year, and no doubt they are being asked anew by the agencies that are working on this."

West Nile first appeared in the United States in 1999 when an outbreak in New York killed seven people. That October, The New Yorker magazine published an article focusing on a book by an alleged Iraqi defector, who said Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) may have developed a lethal strain of the virus to use as a biological weapon.

A report issued in July 2000 by the minority staff of the Senate Government Affairs Committee said "law enforcement, public health, and intelligence officials have investigated the possibility that West Nile virus resulted from a bioterrorist attack but believe that this is very unlikely."

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alan · 09-13-2002, 06:38 PM

It doesn't take much for a mosquito-borne disease to spread. One infected person visiting the U.S. and being bitten by a local mosquito can start what we now see.

West Nile doesn't strike me as a disease terrorists would choose. It's rarely fatal except in older people (in most cases, apparently, infected younger people don't even have many symptoms), and prevention is fairly easy (mosquito repellent.) Terrorists want a disease that kills a lot of people, really sickens those it doesn't kill, and spreads easily via human contact (like smallpox.)

09-13-2002, 10:51 AM	#1
Max Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Montreal,Province of Quebec, CANADA Posts: 15,036	Senator Eyes Terrorists for W. Nile Senator Eyes Terrorists for W. Nile Fri Sep 13, 7:06 AM ET By DAVID GRAM, Associated Press Writer MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A senator who was the target of an anthrax-laden envelope sent to his Washington office last year has raised the possibility that terrorists may be responsible for the spread of another disease: the West Nile virus ( news - web sites). Sen. Patrick Leahy called on the government to examine whether terrorism is involved in a West Nile outbreak that has killed 54 people this year. "I think we have to ask ourselves: Is it coincidence that we're seeing such an increase in West Nile virus or is that something that's being tested as a biological weapon against us?" Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee ( news - web sites), said Thursday. The Vermont Democrat made the remarks on a radio talk show broadcast on WKDR in Burlington and WDEV in Waterbury. In a statement issued later by his office, Leahy said he could point to no specific evidence that the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus was linked to terrorism. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( news - web sites) said Thursday that there is no evidence to suggest an act of bioterrorism. The spokesman, Tom Skinner, said the cycle of the disease and its transmission - from mosquitoes to birds and to people - is what one would expect with West Nile. "All of that points to this being a naturally occurring outbreak," he said. According to the CDC, nationally, 1,295 people have contracted the disease and 54 have died. Leahy's office also released excerpts Thursday from previous news and congressional committee reports saying officials had downplayed the fear that the spread of West Nile virus might be the work of bioterrorists. "In the times in which we live, questions about our vulnerabilities are unavoidable, and finding all the answers we can is more important than ever," Leahy said in the statement. "I have no way of knowing what the answers are, but some legitimate questions have been asked, especially before September 11 last year, and no doubt they are being asked anew by the agencies that are working on this." West Nile first appeared in the United States in 1999 when an outbreak in New York killed seven people. That October, The New Yorker magazine published an article focusing on a book by an alleged Iraqi defector, who said Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) may have developed a lethal strain of the virus to use as a biological weapon. A report issued in July 2000 by the minority staff of the Senate Government Affairs Committee said "law enforcement, public health, and intelligence officials have investigated the possibility that West Nile virus resulted from a bioterrorist attack but believe that this is very unlikely." ============================== "It has been said that for the truth to exist, it takes two people - one to speak it...and another to hear it. Mankind will be forever doomed to destruction if we continue to ask for the truth...but then refuse to listen.." Outer Limits( To Tell The Truth )

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09-13-2002, 06:38 PM	#2
alan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 6,172	It doesn't take much for a mosquito-borne disease to spread. One infected person visiting the U.S. and being bitten by a local mosquito can start what we now see. West Nile doesn't strike me as a disease terrorists would choose. It's rarely fatal except in older people (in most cases, apparently, infected younger people don't even have many symptoms), and prevention is fairly easy (mosquito repellent.) Terrorists want a disease that kills a lot of people, really sickens those it doesn't kill, and spreads easily via human contact (like smallpox.)