- WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary William Cohen has decided that the 36,000
U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf should undergo anthrax vaccinations as
a ``prudent action,'' the Pentagon announced today.
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- The decision to vaccinate all the 1.4
military men and women in uniform was made in December, but the program
wasn't expected to go into practice until this summer.
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- But with the crisis in Iraq, the vaccination
campaign will begin this month with the forces now in the Gulf region.
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- ``Immunization of our troops is a prudent
action,'' Cohen said in a statement issued at the Pentagon.
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- Gen. Anthony Zinni, the commander in
the Gulf region, requested the move in light of the ongoing threat of a
potential attack with the biological agent, which Saddam Hussein is known
to have developed and put on weapons, Pentagon officials said.
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- The immunization program will consist
pf a series of six inoculations for each service member over an 18-month
period, followed by an annual booster.
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- Although protection levels increase as
the shots in the series are given, the entire six-shot series is required
for full procection, as determined by the FDA, the Pentagon statement said.
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- ``After a careful review, I have concluded
that vaccination against anthrax is a safe, prudent force-protection measure,''
Cohen's statement said.
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- Both he and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, the
chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, have started the vaccination program
by getting their shots, it added.
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- Britain, which has stood solidly behind
Washington's stand against Iraq, was also announcing its vaccination program
today. Canada has already announced its intention to vaccinate its forces
in the Gulf region, the statement said.
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- It will be the responsibility of other
nations who may be contributing to the Gulf effort to decide whether they
will embark on such a program.
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- ``We will be working with allies and
coalition nations as they seek to meet their medical needs,'' the statement
added.
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- The statement noted that anthrax exposure
can be treated with antibiotics before symptoms occur. ``Antibiotics are
in place with forces in the region in sufficient quantities,'' the statement
said.
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- Anthrax can kill so quickly that by the
time any symptoms show up, it may be too late to treat victims.
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- Within one to six days after inhaling
spores of the anthrax bacterium, a victim may have a fever, fatigue and
a cough. Days later, the victim may have trouble breathing, start to sweat
profusely and the skin can take on a bluish tint.
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- If a person starts taking antibiotics
before any symptoms appear, the chances of surviving are better.
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- Without treatment, bacteria emerging
from the spores quickly establish an infection in the lung and then spread
rapidly through the bloodstream. The bacteria pump out a toxin and the
lungs rapidly lose their ability to get oxygen into the blood.
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- A vaccine against anthrax is available,
but must be taken before any exposure occurs. Its supply is limited, though,
and it's used only for the military and people at high risk because of
their occupations, such as veterinarians.
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- Iraq, Russia and as many as 10 other
countries are believed to have the capability to use anthrax in weapons.
The Pentagon considers it the easiest biological weapon to make and use,
and the most lethal as well
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