Analyst's note: Absolutely must read. Oh joy, the same organization that brought us the TSA is now going to "test" our subways by releasing bacteria into the MBTA tunnels every month for a year. Does this have anything to do with the preparations now underway in downtown Chicago? In any case, so much for your trip to or around Chicago, now you may also want to rethink your trip to visit relatives in or near Boston. Please forgive me, I wasn't thinking ... with $4 or higher gas most of you are only considering what could have been in terms of a car trip. I still remember when I once flew to visit family, then our gov't gave us the TSA .. and yes they are on some of our highways as well. This is all to assure that we maintain our national security you know .... from attacks from an Islamist jihadist enemy. We certainly must be politically correct and not speak ill of any such "religion of peace." This Islamist have already infiltrated key elements of our U.S. government. We know our FBI is busy purging its training materials of all traces of truth about Islam and jihad. I don't know about you, but I grow very, very tired of this poppy-cock. Semper Fidelis
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has announced a series of biological tests that they will be conducting in subway systems near Boston. DHS will be releasing bacteria into the MBTA tunnels, in what they say are tests to evaluate sensors installed in the tunnel system.
The DHS sensors are designed to detect biological agents. The testing is expected to go on for at least one year, with multiple bacteria releases every month.
DHS officials insist that the bacteria release, a dead bacteria called B-subtilis, will have no adverse health risks on healthy individuals. What this means for people with compromised immune systems isn’t known, DHS hasn’t publicly commented on that.
B-subtilis is a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium commonly found in soil. Although DHS insists that are no health risks, the EPA fact sheet does show some negative health effects associated with this bacteria.
B. subtilis does produce an extracellular toxin known as subtilisin. Although subtilisin has very low toxigenic properties (Gill, 1982), this proteinaceous compound is capable of causing allergic reactions in individuals who are repeatedly exposed to it.
B. subtilis has also been implicated in several cases of food poisoning (Gilbert et al., 1981 and Kramer et al., 1982 as cited by Logan, 1988).
It goes on to say that in those with compromised immune systems:
Infections attributed to B. subtilis include bacteremia, endocarditis, pneumonia, and septicemia.
