Vaccines against anthrax

Israel claims to have successfully developed an anti-anthrax vaccine in an eight-year, top-secret research program, conducted on hundreds of volunteer soldiers.

According to Israel National Radio, the research and testing program for anthrax vaccine was conducted between 1998 and 2006 under the direction of Israel's Defense Ministry and has ' ended with great success'.

(Photo: VNN) This station and a number of news agencies such as AFP, Reuters said tests were carried out for about 700 soldiers on an absolute voluntary basis, and some side effects were negligible. recorded only 4 volunteers.

Meanwhile, according to Ha'aretz newspaper and Israeli Channel Two TV station, the number of volunteers is about 800 people and side effects have occurred for dozens of people. According to Channel Two, side effects include: ulcers, migraines, lung infections, bronchitis and seizures.

Channel Two also said that volunteer volunteers were banned from disclosing information about the trial even to families and even if they were affected by the side effects of the drug.

Israel's Defense Ministry confirmed that the "Israeli military has conducted research on vaccines in the context of protecting the people against potential external threats". The ministry also said it was authorized by the Israeli Helsinki Commission - the agency in charge of reviewing and approving medical studies that were tested on humans.

On May 15, 2006, Mr. Giora Martinovich, former commander of Israeli military forces, also informed Radio Israel that the vaccine research program had been carried out since the late 1990s in order to address dealing with a possible biological attack from Iraq - at the time under the leadership of Saddam Hussein.

Mr Martinovich said: 'It is clear that at the time Iraq could attack us with anthrax bacteria, we could not buy a large number of vaccines from abroad, then only in the United Kingdom or the United States. . Therefore, the State of Israel must develop a vaccine for itself. '

Severe lesions in the skin of patients with anthrax.(Photos: Wikipedia)

Israeli security sources also confirmed that anthrax research was developed to protect Israeli people, and that testing on volunteer soldiers was authorized by the Israeli government and 'participation of Soldiers in this study are completely voluntary. The tests were conducted under comprehensive medical, ethical and safety supervision. '

According to the source, 'volunteer soldiers have been provided with detailed explanatory notes about the study and they are entitled to withdraw, denying participation in the test, at any time'.

Mr Martinovich said Israel's intention is to produce a vaccine similar to the vaccine that the US is using. In the case of soldiers affected by health in the experiment, Martinovich said: 'There are some soldiers with prolonged side effects and these volunteers will be compensated by the Ministry of Defense'.

According to Mr Martinovich, Israel has a great ability to protect people in the event of an anthrax attack. He said: 'This success brings honor to Israel, but, like any other drug, the vaccine has the predicted side effects'.

During the 1991 Gulf War, the Israeli government used to wear a gas mask for the people, fearing that Saddam's regime could attack the country with missiles carrying unconventional warheads. contains extremely dangerous biological weapons.

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is a disease caused by bacteria that cause spores. People can get sick when these spores get into their bodies. The human body can be infected with anthrax spores in many ways, and diseases can also be affected by infection. When anthrax spores infect a cut, patients can get skin infections. When infected spores enter the lungs, they can cause serious difficulties to the windpipe. And spores present in foods that have not been thoroughly cooked can cause intestinal disease.

How is anthrax spread?

Anthrax is rarely spread from person to person. People get sick by touching anthrax spores that are found in sandy, animal soil, or in things made from animals from around the world where anthrax occurs.

What are the symptoms of anthrax?

Symptoms of anthrax occur differently depending on how infected. When the spores infect a cut, a skin tumor will appear but it will not be painful, then slowly become a black nucleus in the middle of u. The glands near the tumor will swell. When inhaled with anthrax spores, the initial symptoms are like those of the flu and if not treated at the same time, it will cause severe airway problems and death. When eating meat with anthrax spores, the initial symptoms are nausea, poor appetite, and vomiting, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea.

How soon after symptoms do symptoms appear? Symptoms usually appear 1 to 7 days after exposure, but also depending on how they are infected.

How to detect and treat anthrax?

Anthrax is detected through special laboratory tests. Depending on the disease (blood, skin tumors, tracheotomy, etc.) samples from all parts of the body are collected. Patients will be given special antibiotics to treat anthrax. Must be treated immediately if you want to be effective. The disease will lead to death if not treated. The most dangerous is the inhalation of anthrax spores.

Can anthrax be used for bioterrorism purposes? Have. Anthrax can be used for bioterrorism because it can be used as a weapon to increase the level of illness and death in the masses. In September 2001 in the United States, anthrax spores were sent to many places via mail, telling 22 people to be infected, and among them 5 people died.

How to prevent anthrax infection?

Vaccination for people who work at high risk of anthrax can also reduce the spread of anthrax.Be careful when touching dead animals suspected to be anthrax;have a good air conditioning system when making animal skin, hair, hair or wool;And vaccination for animals also helps prevent anthrax.If a person has been infected, vaccination and / or antibiotics should also prevent anthrax.

Source: Virginia Department of Health (Virginia Department of Health, United States)

Quang Thinh

According to Reuters / AFP, Israel Insider, Press TV, VietNamNet