Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site unc.unc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!unc!fsks
From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.med
Subject: Re: Viral infections (San Joaquin Valley Fever).
Message-ID: <181@unc.unc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 21:33:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.181
Posted: Tue Aug 20 21:33:21 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 03:00:15 EDT
References: <191@tekig5.UUCP> <314@kitty.UUCP> <221@aoa.UUCP> <1091@ames.UUCP> <1040@phs.UUCP>
Reply-To: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Organization: CS Dept, U. of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lines: 25
Xref: watmath net.followup:5219 net.med:2134
Summary: 

In article <1040@phs.UUCP> paul@phs.UUCP (Paul C. Dolber) writes:
>Eugene Miya (ames!eugene) recently wrote in net.followup regarding the
>creation of racially-specific microorganisms:
>
>   A couple of books on the subject, one by a USA Col. and the other
>   by Robin Cook on Biological warfare mention racially specific
>   characteristics [in particular, cocc.*: aka San J. Valley Fever, a
>   fungus]...  No need to create new germs anew when many exist already.
>
>Coccidiodomycosis (aka "valley fever" or "San Joaquin [Valley] fever")
>is indeed a fungal infection, acquired by inhalation of Coccidioides
>immitis (in dust, esp. in SW USA and Chaco district of Argentina).
>May be benign or disseminated.
>	Dark-skinned persons and pregnant women are more vulnerable.
>85-90% of blacks and Filipinos w/disseminated form die, versus 50% of
>Caucasians.  Even those with disseminated form may survive for several
>years.  Think you'd better create a new one if you're after a good
>racially-specific biological warfare agent.

It may not be possible to create completely racially specific germs,
since no race is pure.  One might be able to create germs which attack
one group more heavily than another, but all ethnic groups are likely
to be affected, to some extent.

	Frank Silbermann