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BIOWEAPON
DEFENSE STRATEGY
Since the WTC disaster of September 11, 2001, it
is no longer of any value
to debate the likelihood of bioterrorism in the United States. Now we can
discuss the IMPLEMENTATION of a DEFENSE that is available now, is
cost effective and will deter the terrorists from attempting such an attack.
In order to implement this defense strategy, the
following
steps are suggested:
1.
For the bioweapons we know (anthrax, smallpox, plague,
Ebola,
botulism,
etc.).
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Prepare adequate
quantities (say 20 million doses) of vaccines,
sera, immune boosting drugs or antidotes in very heavy
concentrates, and freeze dry them. When needed, they can
be diluted to proper dosage level by simply mixing with
Water for Injection (WFI) and the doses are then ready
to administer.
-
These concentrated
vaccines should be manufactured by the
present pharmaceutical manufacturers of vaccine, and stored
in at least nine guarded locations around the country, near
or
at airports for fast transportation where needed.
2.
For the bioweapons we don’t know (genetically created or
genetically
modified bioweapons).
-
A special agency as part
of the Center for Disease Control is
needed. This "Hot Bio Response" group could be funded by
reducing the budgets of other agencies that have been
unresponsive to the bioweapon problem.
-
The Hot Bio Response (HBR)
group should have three well
equipped and well staffed sites distributed throughout
the country, at three of the nine existing vaccine storage
locations. The mission of the HBR group is to "jump" on any
bio attack, from an enemy or occurring naturally (Ebola-Zaire,
Black Plague, etc.), and develop and evolve an appropriate
response as quickly as possible.
-
The HBR group should have
instant access to "borrow" the best
vaccine and bio-technologists from the pharmaceutical industry
on demand. These vaccine specialists will also be needed in
scaling up the technology for volume manufacturing.
-
The HBR should have a high
volume manufacturing capability
of vaccines, or should purchase and own a section of existing
vaccine manufacturing pharmaceutical companies.
3.
For administering the vaccines, sera, immune boosters or
antidotes to
the population.
-
Perhaps one hundred self
contained syringe filling systems
should be purchased and stored in armories around the country.
This would provide a capability of 28.8 million syringes
in 24 hours.
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Every six months, a trial
run should be done at a near by
airport to keep the health care providers in a "ready" mode
to fill syringes once the vaccine or antidote has been
delivered to their airport.
4. For the possibility
of a bioweapon attack of livestock, crops
or ecosystems.
-
One hundred single engine
crop spray planes should be
purchased and distributed around our nation near farming
and livestock areas. These planes can be funded
by co-ownership with "flying farmers" who could use the
planes at low costs with the understanding that they must
pay for maintenance and hanger space, and be ready to give
up the plane for spraying against and containment of bioweapons,
for the national interest. Their ability to immediately fly planes
they are familiar with, will be a powerful defense against this
type of agricultural attack. Of course this would work as well
for a naturally occurring pestilence or destructive insects.
No longer will the United States
have to be fearful of a bioweapon attack
from an enemy, or an attack from an natural event such as Ebola, Plague or
Bird Flu. Even events that would effect agriculture or livestock are
deterred. By taking these steps now, the United States will have the
best defense against ANY form of biological attack, whether from
our enemies or from nature.
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