Return-Path: <sentto-279987-3247-1003762460-fc=all.net@returns.onelist.com> Delivered-To: fc@all.net Received: from 204.181.12.215 [204.181.12.215] by localhost with POP3 (fetchmail-5.7.4) for fc@localhost (single-drop); Mon, 22 Oct 2001 07:56:07 -0700 (PDT) Received: (qmail 27237 invoked by uid 510); 22 Oct 2001 14:53:51 -0000 Received: from n2.groups.yahoo.com (216.115.96.52) by 204.181.12.215 with SMTP; 22 Oct 2001 14:53:51 -0000 X-eGroups-Return: sentto-279987-3247-1003762460-fc=all.net@returns.onelist.com Received: from [10.1.1.221] by n2.groups.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 22 Oct 2001 14:54:20 -0000 X-Sender: fc@red.all.net X-Apparently-To: iwar@onelist.com Received: (EGP: mail-8_0_0_1); 22 Oct 2001 14:54:19 -0000 Received: (qmail 84697 invoked from network); 22 Oct 2001 14:54:19 -0000 Received: from unknown (10.1.10.142) by 10.1.1.221 with QMQP; 22 Oct 2001 14:54:19 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO red.all.net) (65.0.156.78) by mta3 with SMTP; 22 Oct 2001 14:54:19 -0000 Received: (from fc@localhost) by red.all.net (8.11.2/8.11.2) id f9MEsau05340 for iwar@onelist.com; Mon, 22 Oct 2001 07:54:36 -0700 Message-Id: <200110221454.f9MEsau05340@red.all.net> To: iwar@onelist.com (Information Warfare Mailing List) Organization: I'm not allowed to say X-Mailer: don't even ask X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL3] From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net> X-Yahoo-Profile: fcallnet Mailing-List: list iwar@yahoogroups.com; contact iwar-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list iwar@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:iwar-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com> Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 07:54:35 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: iwar@yahoogroups.com Subject: [iwar] [fc:Bioweapons.alerts.may.cause.lasting.psychological.harm] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Bioweapons alerts may cause lasting psychological harm 10:09 19 October 01 Will Knight Mounting fear over anthrax attacks and the potential for other biological and chemical weapons attacks could have a long-lasting psychological effect on many people, even if the incidents themselves remain sporadic, say medical researchers in the UK and US. They warn that authorities in many countries could inadvertently worsen the situation by over-reacting and proposing countermeasures, such as chemical sensors on subway systems. "It may be unwise to send in men in white suits for what are relatively low-risk situations," co-author Simon Wessely, of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, told New Scientist. "If there are terrorists behind these attacks, that is what they want." The likelihood of causing extensive psychological damage by fitting underground sensors far outweighs the likelihood of the sensors saving lives, they say. To date, 50 people have tested positive for anthrax exposure, 46 in the US, but there have been thousands of hoaxes around the world. Terror tactics The psychological damage caused by heavy-handed reactions could eventually manifest itself in mistrust of government experts, says the team. It could also lead to unwarranted increased media and public speculation over the long-term health effects of low-level exposure to chemical and biological agents. The authors say that similar uncertainty followed the use of chemical weapons on soldiers in the Gulf and the Balkans. Wessely says that biological and chemical weapons are less effective than bombs and guns, but can inspire more fear and uncertainty: "Anthrax is a lousy weapon. But it is the hidden menace." "Out of proportion" Others agree that the terrorist attacks should not cause undue concern. "Any serious scientist is going to say when you look at the figures it is out of proportion," says Leslie Carrick-Smith, an independent UK expert on the psychologist effects of disasters. "A few people have been affected and 50 million have become very anxious." Wessely believes that the public must treat the threat of biological and chemical attack as minimal. "The solution is to remember that we can deal with it, unless we overreact, as they seem to be doing in America," he says. Journal reference: British Medical Journal (vol 323, p 878) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Pinpoint the right security solution for your company- Learn how to add 128- bit encryption and to authenticate your web site with VeriSign's FREE guide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/yQix2C/33_CAA/yigFAA/kgFolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ------------------ http://all.net/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : 2001-12-31 20:59:56 PST