# How does one defend oneself against bio-weapons?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 25, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748 "2001-09-25T18:31:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748/21 "2001-09-28T22:16:12Z")

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Great Debates is overrun with threads debating the motives/actors/targets/etc. of the attack. Take it there.

This thread is about defenses against potential bio-weapons.

Does FEMA or someone have a public document with the procedure?

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748/22 "2001-09-28T22:26:36Z")

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Yep. Here you go:

[**Link number one from FEMA:** residents living near chemical weapons storage areas](http://www.fema.gov/pte/csepp1.htm)

It’s not exactly relevant, but not bad.

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**Author:** ![Lost\_In\_Reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Lost\_In\_Reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost_In_Reality)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748/23 "2001-09-29T01:34:38Z")

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IANABWE (Biological Weapons Expert) but while reading the New York Times they mentioned drugs which were thought to protect against anthrax after inhalation. In 1998 the FDA approved the drug Cipro (ciprofloxacin HCl) made by Baycol to protect against this. Although never tested, the government feels that 500 mg should suffice. The supposed window is 12-48 hours. Also the government has a national stockpile of vaccines and other things to help ease the aftermath of the attack if it ever happens, hopefully not.

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-defend-oneself-against-bio-weapons/83748/24 "2001-09-29T06:35:22Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lost In Reality \*  
> **In 1998 the FDA approved the drug Cipro (ciprofloxacin HCl) made by Baycol to protect against this. Although never tested, the government feels that 500 mg should suffice. The supposed window is 12-48 hours.**

I just heard a report mentioning Cipro this evening. It sounds promising but, as mentioned, you must start taking very soon after exposure (12-48 hours sounds about right). They also mentioned they have no idea how long the drug must be taken for but guessed at up to 60 days.

As a result I’d say the one pill given to the woman mentioned in an earlier thread is still a joke.

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