Scared of Anthrax? Germ Expert Says Panicky People Can Iron Mail

[Amused]

Germ Expert Says Panicky People Can Iron Mail


Updated: Wed, Oct 17 9:25 AM EDT


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading bioterror expert said on Tuesday people who feel panicky about opening their mail amid the anthrax scare can use a hot steam iron and a moist layer of fabric to kill germs.

Ken Alibek, a top former Soviet germ warfare scientist who is now a U.S.-based author and researcher trying to develop defenses against bioterror, told a surprised congressional briefing on nonproliferation that a hot, moist steam iron and moist fabric could kill anthrax spores.

Pressed by surprised lawmakers who were not sure if they had heard him right, he repeated that several times.

"Iron your letters," he said, adding that a microwave oven was not as good as an iron and that including moisture was essential because spores could survive dry heat.

For large amounts of mail, in big cities or postal distribution centers, he recommended setting up portable gamma radiation units to sterilize letters. "This problem could be solved," he said.

Alibek repeated the advice of many other experts that people should not buy gas masks. But he said that if his biotech company and two others doing similar work got "significant funding," they probably could bring to market new antiviral drugs that would work against several potential bioterror weapons within two years. "We've had interesting results with animals," he said.

Connecticut Republican Christopher Shays, who convened the hearing, noted that the chances of anyone getting anthrax-contaminated mail were extremely small.

 

[minendo]

interesting

 

[khtm]

<< We've had interesting results with animals >>



Translation: We've tortured and killed many animals while testing out our new drugs :Q

 

[iamwiz82]

<<

<< We've had interesting results with animals >>



Translation: We've tortured and killed many animals while testing out our new drugs :Q >>



better than just letting it on to the market. I know i know, animals are more important than people, right?

 

[Kenazo]

if it will potentially save thousands of people it will have been worth it.

 

[Vadatajs]

<<

<< We've had interesting results with animals >>



Translation: We've tortured and killed many animals while testing out our new drugs :Q >>



Better than torturing and killing people, even though it would significantly mitigate our homeless problem...but I digress.

please tell us you're not one of those psychotic anti-fur activists that honestly believes that dumping paint on people's coats is a solution to the "problem." hell, I'll bet nearly all people who can afford a fur coat can also afford to replace it if need be.

EDIT: incase you people don't know what I'm getting at: More paint-ruined coats=more cute dead animals. Which btw are raised on farms and have no chance of surviving in the wild.

 

[prontospyder]

very interesting finding.

 

[bacillus]

hmm, I'm just off to buy a steam iron!

 

[hungrypete]

now rush out and buy irons!

you realize the odds of getting anthrax in the mail is worse than the odds of winning the lottery, right?

 

[burnedout]

We've had interesting results with animals

Yep. Every one of the animal rights activists are convinced that humans reside within a second class realm. Sure! Allow Americans to become infected with Anthrax. Forget about researching solutions. At least poor animals with a lifespan of 6.68 years continue to survive long after all the humans are dead.

Comforting logic in this day and age.

 

[Descartes]

<< Every one of the animal rights activists are convinced that humans reside within a second class realm >>



If you're going to make generalized comments, you can at least get your facts straight.



<< Comforting logic in this day and age >>



Yes, isn't it?

 

[squirrelman]

If the radical animal rights activists have such regard for animal lives we should use them for the test subjects and spare the animals

 

[RDMustang1]

sweet, this will allow my mom to relax a little more when opening mail

 

[burnedout]

If the radical animal rights activists have such regard for animal lives we should use them for the test subjects and spare the animals

Agreed.

 

[tcsenter]

<< But he said that if his biotech company and two others doing similar work got "significant funding," they probably could bring to market new antiviral drugs that would work against several potential bioterror weapons within two years. >>

This guy plugged his own company. hehe

You will see this guy's claim refuted in the days ahead. Anthrax spores cannot be killed by "ironing" mail, not even by steam-ironing mail, unless you're prepared to do it for awhile. Spore-forming bacteria are the most resistance organisms known next to a couple viruses. Free flowing steam is only marginally hotter than boiling water (100'C). Bacterial spores can survive boiling water up to 30 hours, depending upon the organism. While boiling water will eventually kill spores, it is the work(heat)/time relationship that kills organisms.

This is why steam autoclaves are used to sterilize surgical instruments. Steam autoclaves were developed for one purpose - to kill spore-forming microbes. Steam is pressurized @ 15 - 20 psi to achieve temperatures of 250' - 255'F. By increasing the pressure to achieve higher temps, the work/time factor is reduced.

A biological indicator used in steam autoclaves is Bacillus stearothermophilus spores, which are the most heat resistance bacillus spores known. The temperature inside the autoclave MUST reach 250' before sterilization can take place.

Not all spores of the same bacteria are equally resistant. Exposure to free-flowing steam may kill 50% of spores in one minute, 60% in 2 minutes, 70% in 3 minutes, etc. until all spores are ensured killed. Those are just my numbers for illustration, they are not actual recommendations.

 

[Doggiedog]

There is also something else you can do.

You can put a small glass of water in the microwave and put your letter in there and zap those bad germs.

That will get them. This was confirmed by my friend who asked the director of the CDC in New Jersey.

 

[tcsenter]

<< You can put a small glass of water in the microwave and put your letter in there and zap those bad germs. >>

False. Already been 'demythed' several times by CDC officials. It will kill most vegetative bacteria, not all of them, and certainly not microbial spores, unless you leave it in there quite a long time, which you then have the problem of the water boiling over onto your mail. The idea is to keep the mail at least somewhat readible, else we would just throw it into the fire.