Chapter 311 It’s still a familiar smell
“Jack? Why are you here?” This female medical doctor in her forties recognized someone at a glance.
Obviously, during the bioterrorist attack using the hemorrhagic fever virus in Los Angeles, the scene where Jack went berserk and went straight up to knock the female terrorist unconscious with his headbutt left a deep impression on her. .
"Wow, have you become the FBI?" Dr. Morgan took the initiative to reach out and shake Jack's hand.
Jack did not expect to meet an acquaintance in Maryland, so he greeted her very warmly.
Jiejie led everyone into a conference room, closed the door and drew the blinds, thus blocking out the noisy people outside.
“This is Linda Kimura, director of our CDC’s Special Pathogens Department.” Dr. Morgan introduced a middle-aged Asian woman next to her.
He is not tall and has an unattractive appearance. He is probably in his early forties. He looks smart and capable, and his face does not wear the stereotypical Asian makeup that is common in European and American workplaces.
As a Japanese, if you don’t judge her by her surname, Jack is probably the only one among the people present who can tell her origin at a glance. This is also a special skill of the Seris people.
After a brief greeting, Dr. Kimura was introduced to everyone, and Dr. Morgan left in a hurry. She looked very hurried. Jack was not sure about her current position, but she seemed to be higher than the director.
"I'm sorry to meet you under such circumstances." Dr. Kimura is obviously an immigrant of more than two or three generations, and he doesn't have the bad habit of bowing at all times like he did when he was young.
"So what's going on?" Rhett carried his small satchel again today, probably because he had to catch a flight all night, looking sleepy and haggard.
"Start quickly." Hotchner urged, his face a little ugly. Apparently he was one of the first people to see certain reports.
Jiejie took out a stack of information and began to perform her duties, starting with a general introduction to the situation and the progress of the case.
"A total of 25 people were admitted to the emergency room in Annapolis and surrounding areas last night. They all stayed near the local Jingshan Park after 2pm yesterday."
"In less than 10 hours after that, the first deceased appeared. Now it's just 9 o'clock in the morning the next day, and there are already 12 deceased."
"Is it confirmed to be anthrax?" Jack Looking through the pathological photos in the information, black gangrene on the skin is a relatively typical clinical symptom, but the specific situation must be determined by experts.
"Anthrax is not that lethal." Rhett said with a frown.
“This strain is OK.” Dr. Kimura confirmed concisely.
Jack raised his eyebrows, knowing clearly that the anthrax bacillus in nature is not difficult to deal with, especially if it is a weapons-grade strain leaked from the laboratory.
Common skin anthrax infections are not difficult to treat, especially if they are treated with antibiotics in the early stages. A series of antibiotics such as penicillin can deal with this thing.
Even for the more serious direct lung infection anthrax, there are a lot of mature treatment options, and it is impossible to have such a high mortality rate.
With so many people dead and development so fast, there is only one possibility. This Bacillus anthracis is not extracted from nature, but has been artificially optimized. It is not only immune to most antibiotics, but also The reproduction rate is also extremely amazing.
Because Bacillus anthracis kills by relying on the toxins it produces during its reproduction process, the reproduction rate determines the rate at which toxins accumulate in the human body.
Deaths occurred within ten hours, and nearly half of the 25 infected people died in less than 24 hours. It was a proper biochemical weapon level.
"Since the victim was infected in an open space like a park, it shows that the attacker most likely used dry powder dispersal."
"Usually, the lethal dose of inhaled anthrax ranges from 10,000 to 2 Between 10,000 spores, every 1g of Bacillus anthracis powder contains more than 1 trillion anthrax spores.” Reid regularly provides science education to everyone, but this time the content of his science education is chilling.
“If 112 pounds of anthrax spores were sprayed upwind of a city of 500,000 people along a two-kilometer line, 120,000 people could eventually be infected and 90,000 people would become infected. Even livestock and wild animals are not immune to death."
He paused and then said, "And based on the toxicity of this strain, this number is likely to be several times higher."
"Is there no vaccine?" Emily rubbed her arm.
"Yes, but the vaccine can only produce a certain level of protection one week after vaccination, and it will take at least two weeks to fully reach the level of protection." Dr. Kimura answered very quickly.
“Furthermore, we cannot confirm whether the original anthrax vaccine is still effective against this strain.”
“Have you tried all the commonly used antibiotics?” Forensic doctors are also doctors, although Jack’s daily routine Cheating, but I still know the basic medical principles.
“After it was confirmed that it was Bacillus anthracis, antibiotic treatment was carried out immediately, but it had no effect. The surviving patients have been transferred to the special ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.”
Dr. Kimura glanced at Jack and answered in the affirmative.
Jack rolled his eyes silently and did not pursue the question. He turned to look at Hotchner, "So what did Fort Detrick say?"
"We will talk to Detrick. Collaboration with military scientists at Fort Rick," Hotchner replied.
"Is General Whitworth coming here?" Rossi obviously knew this area well.
Hotchner nodded, "Yes, he and his people will be responsible for the control and elimination of infected areas and the analysis of strains."
There are some things that everyone knows very well. Not all of them are our own people here, so they are much more cautious in what they say.
Seeing everyone's silence, Emily took the initiative to change the topic, "So, what is our current response strategy?"
"Those potential large target places, airports and shopping malls , bus stops, etc., how should we deal with it? "
"Block information and keep it strictly confidential from the media." Hotchner means not to deal with it.
“Aren’t you going to let the public know?” Emily’s eyes widened.
"This is Maryland." Jack, who had already experienced a biological crisis, explained for Hotchner.
Many people may not know Annapolis, but knowing that this place is only 50 kilometers away from Washington, DC, is just a matter of stepping on the gas.
The threat of directly spreading dry powder of Bacillus anthracis spores is greater than the method of sending letters and mailings in 2001. Once it is announced by the media, it will most likely cause a large-scale exodus of surrounding residents.
Then, riots and zero-dollar shopping will naturally follow. Maybe the number of people who will die in the riots will be much more than the casualties caused by these one or two small-scale biochemical attacks. .
(End of this chapter)