Article November 5, 2001 Issue

The very air we breathe

Are you concerned about biological attack?

BY Channing Walker

WILL I BE SAFE? Will my family be safe? Will my community, country—even government—be safe? Should we take additional steps to protect ourselves?

The talk of biological warfare pushes these questions—and more like them—to the front. But before alarm bells clang too loudly, why not take a quiet moment to put this discussion in some perspective?

A recent Los Angeles Times piece overviewed biochemical weapons. Concerning the one most prominent at that moment, the Times flatly stated, "It's hard to catch anthrax." The article explained that that's true even for an individual exposed to the bacterium. It's hard to catch it. What about large-scale concerns? Again, the facts diminish fears that are otherwise needlessly inflated. The paper assured, "The chances of large-scale public infections are remote." Why? Practically speaking, it's next to impossible to expose masses of people to the concentration levels necessary to harm. It's a relief to know that. And it will benefit us if we let the facts inform our outlook and moderate our concerns.