Tired hearts and
somber minds watched as our nation's security came to the forefront
last September. The barrier of protection that we once felt had been
pierced along with our dreams of peace on our home ground. Fears flooded
our minds of impending war, intrepid disaster and the implementation
of biological warfare. We had an immediate and sobering view into our
future.
Biological warfare
is a terminology used by our armed forces to denote germs, viruses and/or
bacteria contained and utilized to attack or incapacitate an enemy.
They can be delivered to the aggressors by means of artillery, bombs,
missiles, spray from aircraft, dumped in water supplies, as a food contaminant,
in aerosol cans and they can even be delivered to your front door. Many
of the contaminants can be communicable, spread from person to person
or between humans and animals. Their means of dispersal is endless.
It is this endlessness that can be most damaging. There is no way of
stopping the spreading of the toxin once it has been released.
Approximately 120
cities across the nation are preparing, in some manner, for said events.
Those numbers grow daily. Yet despite all of their efforts, there is
no plan of action. Every city has developed it's own terms of preparedness.
Another issue that we face is what will that chemical agent be? And
how can we protect ourselves if we don't know what we are in need of
protection from?
The Possibilities
The Center for
Disease (CDC) control has listed a section on their website of infectious
diseases. They have also included maps and images to help explain to
the public what we may have to face. The list is long and the death
toll and symptoms are disparaging.
Anthrax is
the most prevalent of biological warfare in the minds of Americans.
This agent was used in the Gulf War and it is possible that it will
in turn make its way into our lives. This bacterial contaminant has
a spore form that makes it environmentally resistant. It is not communicable,
though once inhaled, anthrax is highly infectious and lethal. It is
a highly controversial adversary, making the legalities of the vaccine
difficult at this time.
A more commonly
known viral agent is that of Smallpox. Highly contagious and
easily spread, smallpox also has a high mortality rate. Vaccination
programs claimed to have eradicated smallpox in the 1970's. Labs in
both the United States and Russia have maintained quantities of the
virus and it is believed that other labs may be tampering with the remaining
quantities for research and developmental purposes.
Two viral toxins,
Ebola and Marburg, reflect identical symptoms. Those infected
run a fever and begin to hemorrhage. These extremely lethal toxins leads
to copious amounts of bleeding from all orifices. Unfortunately, there
is no treatment and no known cure.
The CDC notes
botulism, a bacterial pollutant, as one of the most deadly. It can
be contracted by inhalation or by ingestion. In severe cases, patients
are diagnosed with respiratory failure and paralysis.
Tularemia is also bacterial, though not lethal. It does cause other
disorders that are quite debilitating. Symptoms include weight loss,
fever, headache, and in many cases pneumonia.
Other than biological
warfare, chemical warfare does play its role as well. Nerve gases such
as sarin and VX have been used in previous battles and do have their
possibilities here. The level of intoxication by these gases will determine
the range of detriment caused. If a victim is caught in time, repair
can be made and damage may be reversible.
The History
It is important
to note that not all countries have established biological warfare
programs. In all actuality, only about seventeen do.
Among those listed
are: Russia, Israel Egypt, Iran, Iraq, China, Libya, Syria and North
Korea.
During World War
II, the United States government developed and manufactured biological
weaponry. After years of research and testing over Pacific waters, President
Nixon reviewed the program and declared it unfitting of America due
to our dual involvement in nuclear studies. He ordered the program to
be terminated and the weapons to be destroyed.
In 1979, there was an anthrax outbreak in Sverdlovsk, USSR. After much
debate U.S. officials suspected Soviet involvement in a biological warfare
program. After the reign of Dr. Valdimir Paschenick in 1989, the United
States and Britain performed inspections in 1991. Evidence was found
and it was concluded that the Russian were significantly implicated.
Today's View
Even in the United
States there is great activity surrounding the research and decimation
of biological warfare. Due to the Gulf War and current outbreaks, Anthrax
seems to be the expected weapon of choice. This agent is inexpensive
and is easy to produce in large quantities. It is stable. And most uncomforting,
we have limited detection capabilities.
Susceptibility
Anthrax is
a naturally occurring disease among animals that ingest the bacterium
Bacillus anthracis. The bacterium is generally found upon the vegetation
that these animals may ingest. This infection is quite common among
livestock populations. Humans can contract the bacteria by inhalation
(also known as Woolsorter's disease), contact through a cut in the skin,
or through consumption of infected meat products. One gram of this lethal
agent could infect and severely injure or kill 100 million unsuspecting
victims.
It is believed that
the terrorists will disseminate via aerosol dispersal. This packaging
will give them the capabilities of adding to the agent immuno-suppressants,
endangering chemicals or other toxic irritants. Attempts to disseminate
biological agents via aerosol have failed in the past; we should not
underestimate the power of the motivation that we are dealing with.
Heavy smokers, or others with respiratory damage or weaknesses may be
at a greater risk.
After an incubation
period of up to six days, symptoms may arise. Cutaneous anthrax may
result in itching and the formation of a lesion at the point of contact.
Untreated, the fatality rate ranges from 5-20%. Yet, with effective
antibiotics few deaths have been reported.
Symptoms after inhalation
are not specific to the disease. Victims may feel as if they have contracted
the flu with symptoms such as fever, cough and general weakness. There
is generally a recessional period in which symptoms cease, yet within
24 hours one will experience respiratory distress, hypotension and shock.
Death is imminent once this phase has been reached.
Treatment and
Prevention
The threat of biological
warfare, or bio-terrorism, is very real. The U.S. medical community
is quite worried about the ability of our standing medical facilities
and their capabilities. The capacity of tour hospitals and clinics do
not have the space for the probable masses of people that may flood
their offices. Neither do they have the medical supplies or staff needed
to treat those individuals. They lack the quantities of antibiotics,
testing equipment and expertise needed for this situation. How many
doctors do you know that were extensively trained on the effects of
biological warfare? And how do you prepare to treat something if you
are unsure of what that agent will be?
The debate surrounding
the anthrax vaccine is quite vast. Not only do its dangers outweigh
the benefit but also the creator, BioPort of Lansing, Michigan, has
been halted by the FDA due to major manufacturing violations. The United
States military recently stopped their vaccination efforts due to illness
and deaths related to the inoculation. Thus, the vaccine is not a viable
option for the general population any time soon.
The key is to be
prepared for whatever the weapon may be. And part of that preparation
is building a secure wall of immunity around you. In order to overcome
bacterial infection, as well as any infection, Colloidal Silver
will work wonders. The West Nile Virus is being stopped by
Elderberry in vitro studies. Keeping a proper balance of probiotics
in the intestinal tract will aid with elimination. Hi Potency Garlic
will boost the immune system and Olive Leaf Extract is another
product that would be ideal to have on hand in case of biological warfare
infection.
Essential oils have
proven their healing properties effectively in recent years. These oils
retain all of the properties of the plant: nutrients, oxygenation molecules,
hormones, amino acid precursors and enzymes. Many have the ability to
eliminate bacteria and viruses as well as boosting the immune function
of the body. Dr. Jean Balnet, a French researcher, designated Thyme
to have the capacity to destroy the anthrax bacteria, staphylococcus,
diphtheria, meningococcus and Kock's bacillus, which is the bacterial
precursor to tuberculosis. Integrating thyme and other healing oils
into your daily routine may bring about the added immunity that your
body needs.
Dietarily the best
thing to do is follow one rule: organic, organic, organic. Over
processed or refined foods weaken the body and cause a build up of toxins
within the lymph and intestinal tract. Making sure to get one's pH in
balance will also aid the nervous and immune system. Those experiencing
acidosis or alkalosis, even mild cases, may have compromised health.
The recent addition
to the Nature's Sunshine family is the Ozone water filtration
system. Similar systems in Europe claim to filter out most bacteria
including that of anthrax. Ozone units filter out bacteria, molds, and
viruses from the water quite effectively.
Cleansing our body of the chemicals in our environment is a tool that
will benefit us in the event of chemical warfare. Nourishing the body
to sustain a healthy nervous and digestive tract will aid in the natural
process of warding off and eliminating these toxins in the future.
Conclusions
In the natural health
community, we have focused on the beauty of our industry. Prevention
and education has always been our source of enlightenment. The utilization
of herbs and essential oils when paired with healthy life practices
will benefit the individuals that may come into contact with any warfare,
be it bacterial, viral or chemical.
It is the "not
knowing" that makes us feel so vulnerable. Combating this fear
is the first step to overcoming and carrying on. Being prepared is more
than stocking up on essential oils, preventative herbs, and probiotics.
It is a sense of survival that all of us have in our hearts. For after
all, do we ever really know what tomorrow will bring? Starting a healthy
lifestyle today will protect you tomorrow. The influence of that lifestyle
on our children will last a lifetime.
