Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine Ma'ayenei
Hayeshua Hospital
This will be our last article in this series on new
infectious diseases, although as I said before, I could
write many articles on this subject. Today's article is
unfortunately a current issue, but it is not for those who
are easily frightened. We will be discussing biological
warfare.
A treaty following World War I banning the use of chemical
and biological weapons was signed by the then League of
Nations, but it was not honored. Chemical warfare was used
in the Iraqi-Iranian war of 1980-89, and also against the
Kurds in the same country. Biological warfare is a lot
harder to detect, and can be devastating. Until the Gulf
War, the leading country researching this type of warfare
was Iraq, but since then the Syrians and the Libyans have
been doing the most work in this. Israel probably has the
most sophisticated research in this manner of warfare.
The Iraqis have experimented with many forms of
microorganisms -- some as simple as a virus to cause mass
diarrhea and a fungus to destroy food crops, to deadly
organisms. The former were unsuccessful, but the leading
biological is Anthrax, a disease of animals and those who
tend them. Usually it causes an ulcerating skin disease, or
diarrhea, but if inhaled and antibiotics are not started
before the full blown syndrome develops, the person dies
within 2-5 days.
Another disease they have been working on is the plague,
another disease that can cause a bad pneumonia if inhaled.
Recently another bacteria commonly found in Australia has
been experimented with, which will be extremely hard to
detect.
The bad news is that this country, and most countries as
well, would rapidly run out of antibiotics and respirators
provided they discovered the outbreak in time. People
fleeing the scene may spread the diseases to other parts of
the country. Despite the many drills this country does, they
are not fully prepared for biological attack.
The goods news is the research in Iraq has been severely
curtailed. In order for those diseases to reach the lungs,
they must be delivered by a warhead that won't destroy the
bacteria and will spread it around. Aside from easily
destroyed crop duster planes, no one of the above countries
has this technology (aside from Israel). Also the gas masks
that have been distributed should give enough protection for
these agents.
This is a scary subject. Let's pray we never have to deal
with it. Write me in care of the Yated.
Mrs. J. of Haifa corrected me about heart transplants - Dr.
Barnard, and not DeBaker (who did the first in the USA)
performed the first on Mr. Washkansky. I stand corrected and
thank you for writing to me.
A message from Glaxo, sponsor of this column. I am
pleased to announced the Glaxo has agreed to renew their
funding for this column. Since last year when they first
started as our sponsor, they have merged with Smith Kline
Beecham, making them the largest pharmaceutical company in
the world. I am honored that they have chosen my column to
sponsor, and feel that we should value their contribution to
our community. We'll be speaking throughout the year on
their new medications and if it is a medication that you
could use -- ask your doctor about it. Glaxo is the leader
in asthma, eczema and migraine -- Imitrex for example was
the first and leader in its class.
