D.C. Biohazard Sensors Triggered

Biohazard sensors on the National Mall detected a possible disease agent last weekend during the Iraq war demonstrations.

The Washington Post reports sensors detected the presence of a potentially dangerous tularemia bacteria, but health officials said they believed the levels were too low to be a threat:

"We pretty much feel there is no public health threat here," said Von Roebuck, a spokesman for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noting that there have been no reports of tularemia, the disease that is caused by the bacteria. "We just wanted to alert the medical community to watch out for cases."

According to the Post, the germ that causes tularemia is considered a biohazard because it is highly infectious and was tested in the 1960s by the United States as a biological weapon. The disease is treatable with antibiotics but, if left untreated, can be fatal.

Several things concern me here. What good is a $200 million system installed in 30 cities if it is only checked once a day. Especially in a place like the National Mall when there is a large demonstration. Thousands of people could be exposed to contagious agent such as anthrax, smallpox or plague and disperse all over the country before the sensors are even checked.

It is also troubling that the fact that more than a half-dozen sensors operating from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday detected the bacteria at sites including the Lincoln Memorial, Fort McNair and Judiciary Square was not revealed until after the usual one week incubation period of tularemia.

Finally, one wonders what authorities would do if anthrax, smallpox or plague is detected. Nearly two years ago United Press International reported BioWatch remained focused too much on the detection technology and not enough on what happens when the alarm goes off.

Background on the BioWatch Program is available here.

Comments

[Candice]

I know of at least 2 dozen people who were at the protest who are now sick with resporatory illnesses. In fact- I haven't talked to a person yet who was there who isn't becoming sick.

Our county's health department head hadn't heard of anything- 1/2 hour later, he returned our call & told us to see our doctor immediatly.

He said that he is supposed to be notified of any biohazard- yet until this morning when he called the CDC- he had heard nothing. The CDC did confirm. They also reported that there were over 1500 reported suspect cases waiting for official diagnosis.