By: Spencer Huddleston, Charger Staff
The nation is in panic. Threats of the Anthrax bacteria are driving Americans to hysterics whenever they are in the presence of a "suspicious white powder." Report of powder have turned out to be everything from spilled laundry detergent to the powdered sugar from doughnuts.
This hysteria has even reached Cookeville. In the past two weeks, several threats of suspected Anthrax have been called in to the Cookeville Health Department, main branch post office, Cookeville High, Upperman High School, and even Capshaw Elementary. Classes were canceled at CHS for two days as well as at Upperman and Capshaw.
Cookeville police officers and others trained to control such situations have done a wonderful job in reacting to the situation and evacuating people from the sites, but obviously are growing tired of the threats because none of them proved to be true.
Throughout Cookeville and the rest of the nation, other fears are also beginning to emerge. The drug Cipro, acknowledged as a cure for anthrax, is in far too short supply to meet the ludicrous demands of the fearful. Perhaps these people do not know their chances of becoming afflicted with anthrax are less than their chances of winning the lottery.
Obviously more frightening than any threat of the non-contagious anthrax is a resurgance of the virus smallpox. Smallpox was eradicated almost a half century ago, but as many as 11 countries including communist North Korea are reported to still have it in their possession. Mass vaccinations ended in the early 1970s. The vaccine is now almost non-existent, therefore leaving our nation vulnerable to the highly contagious virus.
Next time someone spills powdered sugar on the countertop, don't panic. Take reasonable precautions but let common sense prevail.
This page was created by Steven Linger 14-Nov-2001.