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Lt.
Griner and his hazardous chemical suit at Fire Station No.1
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Dr. Deichen on Bioterrorism
First, we became afraid to fly. Now, we are apprehensive when we open our mailboxes. The latest attacks on America involving anthrax have made us all the more wary, because they are so random and unexpected, and the daily routine of getting your mail and saying hello to the mailman have new and not-so-routine connotations. Dr. Michael Deichen, associate medical director of the Student Health Center, answers some questions about bioterrorism and tries to alleviate any fears UCF students may have.
Q: What exactly is anthrax and what are the symptoms of exposure?
Dr. Deichen: Bacillus Anthracis is the spore-forming bacteria responsible for anthrax. Three potential disease entities can result from this bacterium: inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and gastrointestinal anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax causes a sore to develop on an extremity that may then develop into a more generalized severe illness. With inhalation anthrax, symptoms begin benignly with fever, cough, headache and nausea. The disease then gets steadily worse over several days with progressive shortness of breath, vomiting, diaphoresis (perspiration), cyanosis (skin discoloration), and shock.
Q: How do you get smallpox and what are the symptoms?
Dr.: Although it is considered very contagious, close (face-to-face) contact seems to be the most usual mode for transmission. First symptoms are flu-like. Then within 1 or 2 days a very distinctive rash begins in the mouth, face and arms and then spreads to the trunk and legs. Initially, it appears as round red spots and then progresses to blisters and pustules (pox).
"With cold and flu season approaching, what should I do if I get the symptoms..?"
Q: Is there a vaccine available for either?
Dr.: No publicly available vaccine for smallpox or anthrax is currently available.
Q: Can I go to the Student Health Center pharmacy and purchase antibiotics just in case I am exposed to anthrax?
Dr.: The Center for Disease Control, www.bt.cdc.gov, currently advises practitioners to avoid prescribing prophylactic antibiotics, [preventive or protective], to those patients fearful of a biological attack. Use of such agents could unnecessarily expose patients to risk of side affects, drug interactions, bacterial superinfection, etc.
Q: Is the UCF Student Health Center prepared for an outbreak of these biological organisms on campus?
Dr.: From a public health standpoint, the Student Health Center functions as a "Sentinel Reporter," [a community observer.] If suspicion of cases occur, the County/State Health Departments and CDC would be notified. The CDC maintains a 'National Pharmaceutical Stockpile' of drugs and immunizations that are ready for rapid deployment in the event of a biological event. They are also part of the national 'Health Alert Network' that facilitates early detection and intervention. Additionally, they would provide supplies within 12 hours of notification if such cases were to arise.
Q: How much at risk are UCF students of being infected?
Dr.: My personal view is that the risk of these bioterrorisms remain low and an excellent national system is in place to respond if such an event were to occur. We all need to continue to live our lives and avoid becoming part of the fear that the terrorists desire.
Dr. Deichen will continue to answer students' questions concerning their health. The doctor is in! JUST CLICK HERE!
COLD AND FLU SEASON APPROACHES!
News Channel 2 recently invited a panel of experts to their studios to answer call-in questions and e-mails. The most common question asked of the panel, "With cold and flu season approaching, what should I do if I get the symptoms, and how do I know whether to be concerned if I've been exposed to anthrax? The panel said: "You don't need to be worried unless you've been exposed to any white, powdery substance," and "It's always a good idea to check in with your doctor."
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Web page & photos by Kathryn Podolsky, with much thanks to Dr. Deichen and Lt. Griner.
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