In 2000, CDC awarded a contract to Acambis of Cambridge, Massachusetts to produce smallpox vaccine. Initially producing 40 million doses, Acambis anticipates delivery of the first full scale production lots in 2004Acambis can confirm that this programme has been accelerated but is unable to give more details at this stage.

Of the numerous biological agents that may be used as weapons, the Working Group on Civilian Biodefense has identified a limited number of organisms that could cause disease and deaths in sufficient numbers to cripple a city or region. Anthrax is one of the most serious of these diseases.

The only known effective prevention against anthrax is the anthrax vaccine. The vaccine was developed from an attenuated strain of B. anthracis. The vaccine derives from the cell-free culture filtrate of this strain and, in its final formulation, is adsorbed onto an aluminum salt. No cases of inhalation anthrax occurred in anthrax vaccine recipients. Based upon a comparison between the anthrax vaccine and placebo recipients, the authors calculated a vaccine efficacy level of 92.5 percent.

Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies Quarterly news publicaton.

At this time, BioPort’s Anthrax Vaccine is not available for non-military use. Therefore it is not available for public sale. BioPort remains on track to meet target dates for submissions to the FDA for the company’s renovated anthrax vaccine manufacturing facilities. Once approval for the facility is obtained, BioPort will continue to deliver on its’ obligation is to meet the needs of the Department of Defense for the protection of the men and women in our armed services. Once there is vaccine that is available to people outside of the Department of Defense, officials will determine the best route to make the vaccine available to areas outside of the military.

The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Most cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or lived with someone with SARS, or had direct contact with infectious material (for example, respiratory secretions) from a person who has SARS. Potential ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces. It also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.

This page carries the latest CDC press releases.

This page carries the latest CDC health related hoaxes and rumors.

The focus of the hearing was on a recent terrorism response exercise ominously named Dark Winter during which the unimaginable had to be imagined: a multi-site smallpox attack on an unvaccinated American populace. The scenario called upon those playing the president, the National Security Council and state officials to deal with the crippling consequences of what quickly became a massive public health and national security crisis.

West Nile Virus has been found in many states on the east coast and may spread to other states, particularly, in crows, blue jays and hawks. West Nile is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that pass it through birds to humans by biting. The West Nile Virus may cause flu-like symptoms but is rarely found in humans.
IF YOU FIND A DEAD OR DYING CROW, BLUE JAY OR HAWK, CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEST NILE CALL CENTER AT: (202) 442-9239

The vaccine is a cell-free filtrate, produced from a strain of anthrax that does not cause disease. The vaccine contains no whole bacteria, dead or alive.This web site is provided as a public service by the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) Agency. Provides information on anthrax including: why anthrax is a threat, what the anthrax vaccine is, what the vaccine does, history of anthrax, and a facts vs. myths section.

Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza infection often causes a more severe illness. Typical influenza illness includes fever (usually 100ºF to 103ºF in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue. Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany influenza infection, especially in children, these symptoms are rarely the primary symptoms.

Anthrax is an infectious, often fatal, disease associated with animal contact (mostly farm animals) and which, today, is rarely seen in the United States but still exists in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It is a disease of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and swine. Human infection, though rare, is an occupational disease of farm workers, veterinarians, and tannery and wool workers.

Mosquitoes are a very important insect pest affecting the health of humans because of their ability to transmit diseases. Virginia has 55 different known species of mosquitoes. There are approximately 30 different kinds of mosquitoes in Fairfax County. Fairfax health officials are asking residents to be more conscious of the need to eliminate mosquito breeding places around their homes. Health officials encourage residents to be on the lookout for small pools of water in rain gutters, discarded tires, tarps covering firewood, toys,pet water bowls,flower pots,bird baths, etc., which could be breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Taking away or regular emptying of those potential mosquito breeding sites around the home will help limit the number of pesky mosquitoes and help reduce the mosquito population.

These results clearly indicate that the very conservative estimated risks from DU inhalation are less than the guidelines for members of the public. They also provide perspective on the requirements for respiratory protection around contaminated vehicles. A Gulf War-era technical bulletin recommended wearing MOPP 4 (Mission Oriented Protective Posture [MOPP] Level 4) because it was readily available to all soldiers. Most soldiers and civilians were not trained in DU’s characteristics and risks and were unaware of this protective guidance. taking 20 minutes to pass one burning Abrams Heavy Armor tank; entering 7 enemy vehicles hit by DU and spending 7 minutes in each vehicle without contaminating his hands; entering one enemy vehicle for one hour, contaminating his uncovered hands, which he then did not wash for two days; and taking 10 minutes to pass at a distance of 80 meters through the smoke of 3 burning enemy tanks struck by DU.

Smallpox infection was eliminated from the world in 1977. Smallpox is caused by variola virus. The incubation period is about 12 days (range: 7 to 17 days) following exposure. Initial symptoms include high fever, fatigue, and head and back aches. A characteristic rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, follows in 2-3 days. The rash starts with flat red lesions that evolve at the same rate. Lesions become pus-filled and begin to crust early in the second week. Scabs develop and then separate and fall off after about 3-4 weeks. The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but death occurs in up to 30% of cases.

key element of the DoD Scientific and Technical Information Program, DTIC is the central Department of Defense The Nuclear Biological and Chemical Medical Web page contains extensive medical documentation, training material, audio-video clips, a powerful search engine, and links to other related Internet sites.

WNV is a flavivirus belonging taxonomically to the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex that includes the closely related St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, Kunjin and Murray Valley encephalitis viruses, as well as others. WNV was first isolated in the West Nile Province of Uganda in 1937 (2). The first recorded epidemics occurred in Israel during 1951-1954 and in 1957. Epidemics have been reported in Europe in the Rhone delta of France in 1962 and in Romania in 1996 (3-5). The largest recorded epidemic occurred in South Africa in 1974 (6).
Dead Birds - State Call Center: 1.866.866.2769
State Mosquito Control Program: 410.841.5870

Printer Navigable Map Showing West Nile Virus Distribution in the State of Maryland.

Animated Map Showing West Nile Virus Distribution for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Animated Map Showing West Nile Virus Distribution for the Washington DC metropolitan area.