DEP Press Advisory on Deer Hunting Cancellation, October 2, 2001

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West Nile virus outbreak is seen through lens of terror 3 o 3

By DAVE SALTONSTALL weaknesses in the nation’s pub- vation. “But I think it was most told him of plans to make a Ultimately, experts said, the DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER lie health infrastructure. likely an accidental introduction strain of the West Nile virus a West Nile virus doesn’t make In the aftermath of the Sept. And, according to a range of and we can expect more. weapon that could destroy “97% sense as a terrorist’s tool. (A 11 World Trade Center attack, public health and terrorism ex- Saddam tome gives pause of all life in an urban environ­ For starters, its kill rate isn’t sz public health experts are mull­ ing a troubling new question: peris surveyed by the Daily News, the answer to the new ^^vioJs culprits j^^ve always been kriown carri- ment.” Saddam certainly had access close to “97% of all life in an urban environment.” In 1999, ii Could the West Nile virus out­ to the virus. A1994 congression­ only 67 people got sick enough question appears to be no. ^^s, such as birds or blood-bear- al inquiry found American com­ to seek hospital treatment, and § break that struck the city two years ago have been the work of But many stressed that while ing mosquitoes, which could panies had legally shipped West of the six who died, most were the West Nile virus would be an have slipped into New York on Nile and other killer viruses to elderly and considered suscepti­ bioterrorists? unlikely agent for terrorists — planes or boats from Africa, ble to illness. Iraq for research purposes, with The idea gained currency with given its slow spread, sensitivity India or other regions where the the full consent of the U.S. Com­ “If you try to think like a ter- ’ o the publication last month of to weather and other variables virus thrives. Stone said. merce Department, documents rorist, the one thing that seems o CN “Germs: Biological Weapons — no one really knows how it Which is not to sa^ terrorism obtained by The News show. to be a common theme is that and America’s Secret War,” a reached New York, where it wasn’t considered byl federal in­ “It was like Satan’s shopping they want to see the result of book by three New York Times killed six people in the summer vestigators, who recalled a mem- list,” said Denise Donnelly, who their work immediately, like the reporters who noted that the and fall of 1999. oir once written by A man who researched the shipments for arsonist who sticks around and § o virus’ arrival was briefly investi­ “There is no conclusive an- claimed to have been a body- “Falcon’s Cry,” the 1998 book watches the fire,” said Dr. Dick­ § gated as a “germ attack.” swer as to how it got here,” said guard for Saddam Hussein. she co-authored with her broth­ son Despommier, a Columbia ■a tf) But such theories are now dis­ Ward Stone, chief wildlife pa- In the book, “In the Shadow of er about the mysterious ail­ University microbiologist. 3 x: counted, note the authors, who thologist for the state Depart- Saddam,” Mikhael Ramadan re- ments suffered by many return­ “And that isn’t going to hap­ use the outbreak to point out ment of Environmental Conser- counted how the-Iraqi dictator ing Gulf War veterans. pen with most infections.