RE: [Leica] Off topic but worth reading

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Not to be the eternal cynic....but as a former reporter who often covered
the CDC...

IF this were real, there would be a far more general warning put out - as in
releases to the news media to warn the public - rather than 'here's an
Email, pass it on.'

And to suggest that the is ready to let 15000 people be infected with a
highly lethal microbe rather than "panic" people by saying "throw out your
bananas and don't buy any for the next three weeks," is utterly absurd.

Did this notice arrive by Black Helicopter?

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 12:26 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Leica] Off topic but worth reading


This has nothing to do with Leica, but you may find it worth while
reading..

Bill



In a message dated 3/23/00 8:53:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
bushee@mtdata.com writes:

My husband works at Merck's research facility
and this warning was sent
them and has been validated by the Center for
Disease Control. I thought
I should pass it along to you...

Please forward to everyone you love!!
I have checked the source and it is
VALIDATED FROM THE CDC.
(center for disease control in atlanta georgia)
Warning:
Several shipments of bananas from Costa Rica
have been infected with necrotizing fasciitis,
otherwise known as flesh eating
bacteria.  Recently this disease has decimated
the monkey population in
Costa Rica. We are now just learning that
the disease has been able to
graft itself to the skin of fruits in the
region, most notably the Banana
which is Costa Rica's largest export.
Until this  finding scientist were
not sure how the infection was being
transmitted.  It is advised not to
purchase Bananas for the next three weeks
as this is the period of
time for which bananas that have been shipped to
the US with the possibility
of carrying this disease. If you have eaten a
banana in the last 2-3 days and
come down with a fever followed by a skin
infection seek "Medical Attention"!!!
The skin infection from necrotizing fasciitis
is very painful and eats two
to three centimeters of flesh per hour.
Amputation is likely, death is
possible.  If you are more than an hour from a medical
center burning the flesh ahead of  the infected area is
advised to help slow the spread of the infection.
The FDA  has been reluctant to issue a country
wide warning because of fear nationwide panic. They have
secretly admitted that they feel upwards of 15,000 Americans will be
affected by this but that these are acceptable numbers.
Please forward this to as many people you care about as
possible as we do not feel 15,000 people is an acceptable number.
Manheim Research Institute
Center for Disease Control
Atlanta Georgia >>





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