HAMNET BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2001
COMPILED AND PREPARED BY FRANCOIS – ZS6BUU
 

IN THE BULLETIN TODAY

 
Bulletins around the country
Anthrax: Guidelines for contingency planning: Biological Threat
Outstanding Questionnaires
West Rand Cycle Road Race
Database – C.D. Distribution
December Holiday season
News from around the country

HAMNET BULLETINS AROUND THE COUNTRY

Sunday morning kicks off with Hamnet KZN at O7H15 on their local VHF repeaters with a relay on 7.070Mhz by Wally ZS5WP.

Followed with the national Bulletin on 10,130Mhz in the 30M band with a relay on 7.070Mhz by Martin ZS6MSG.  In Gauteng, 145,700Mhz is also used for a local transmission. The time is 16:30 local – until propagation improves when it will revert to 17H00.

Next we have Gauteng North.  Their bulletin runs from 18H00 local on 145.725Mhz with a relay on 3,650MHz or 7.090MHz by Rudi ZS6DX.

North West Province have a club bulletin on Mondays, which includes a Hamnet segment at 19H00 local on 3,750Mhz in the 80M band as well as their local repeater on 145.737.5Mhz.

Last but not least is Hamnet Western Cape Province with a bulletin on Wednesdays at 20H30 local on 3,674 relayed by Matt ZS1MJJ in the 80M band and on their local repeaters, 145:625Mhz, 145:700Mhz, 145:750Mhz and various other links.

Whatever you missed please access the S.A.R.L. Website under the heading “Hamnet News – regularly updated”, for the latest news or if you are on Packet, it will have been sent to you thanks to Rudie ZS6DX.

ANTHRAX – NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE

1. INTRODUCTION

Fear of bio-terrorism attacks has been sweeping the world in recent days.  At least 13 people have been exposed to the deadly bacterium in the United States and one has died.  Envelopes containing the animal disease Anthrax have been sent to media organizations as well as politicians.  Confirmed incidents have so far been restricted to the US, but a number of false alarms and hoaxes have been reported around the world.

It has become necessary to take note of a possible Anthrax threat and the precautionary steps to be taken.

2. WHAT IS ANTHRAX

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goats, camels antelope and other herbivores), but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to the intentional release of Anthrax spores as a biological weapon.

3. WHY HAS ANTHRAX BECOME A CURRENT ISSUE?

Anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare and several incidents have recently occurred not only in the United States but also worldwide.

4. HOW IS ANTHRAX TRANSMITTED

Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation and gastrointestinal.  B. Anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years, and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by direct contact or inhaling anthrax spores that are intentionally released as a biological weapon.

5. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANTHRAX?

Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted but symptoms usually occur within 7 days.

Cutaneous: Most (about 95%) anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin.  Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2 days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3 cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic (dying) area in the center.  Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell.  About 20% of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax will result in death.  Deaths are rare with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold.  After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock.  Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal.

Intestinal: the intestinal disease form of anthrax is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract.  Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea.  Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.

6. CAN ANTHRAX BE SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON?

 
The disease is infectious and not contagious, in other words, direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely to occur.  Communicability is not a concern in managing or visiting with patients with inhalational anthrax.

7. IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR ANTHRAX?

Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics.  To be effective, treatment should be initiated early.  If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.

8. HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT TREATS

8.1 Anthrax threats are very similar to bomb threats and cannot be ignored.  Dealt with responsibly, no anthrax threat, even if it is real, should have serious consequences.  Many facilities in communities around the world have received anthrax threat letters.  Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances.  The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedure for handling such incidents.

8.2 Do not panic.  For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, its must be aerosolized into very small particles.  This is difficult to do and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment.  If these small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.

8.3 Suspicious Letter of Package.

a.      Do not shake of empty the contents of any suspicious package, DO NOT try to clean up powder or fluids.

b.      PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
c.      If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
d.      Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or cordon off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e. keep others away).
e.      WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face or skin.
f.      What to do next.

·        If you are at HOME, then report the incident to the Police, Metro Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services or Municipal Health.

·        If you are at WORK notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
·        If possible, LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized.  Give this list to the SA Police for follow-up investigations and advice.
·        Remove heavily contaminated clothing and place in a plastic bag that can be sealed; give the bag to the SA Police.
·        Shut down air conditioning system in the building
·        Shower with soap and water as soon as possible.  Do not use bleach of disinfectant on your skin.

Final comment. Do not try a hoax.  If you get caught, you could be liable for a R12,000 fine for wasting the time of the Police Department.  This was the case up here in Gauteng.

OUTSTANDING QUESTIONNAIRE’S

 
Please let me have the outstanding Questionnaires as soon as possible.  This is delaying the issuing of the new I. D. Card for Hamnet members.  You may recall, your official Bar Coded I. D. number now forms part of the new card and we need that number before we can start issuing new Hamnet I. D. cards.
 
The Questionnaire has also undergone a metamorphosis.  It now acts as an Application Form as it contains all the necessary information we need to accurately record information on our Hamnet Database.

CYCLE ROAD RACE – 28 OCTOBER 2001

 
The Westcon Cycle Challenge took place under misty and rainy conditions on Sunday the 28th of October.  I wish to thank all those who participated despite last minute problems with not only a change in the route but also more water points allocated than what was on the original plan.

One of our team also could not find one water point, but which eventually turned out to have been moved to a different location and manned in the end by another one or our team members.

The original plan also indicated only 3 teams leaving at set intervals, but eventually there were at least five teams, with the last leaving at about 8:30 am.

It was decided that in future, should we be asked to assist in such events, that at least one person from Hamnet attend all meetings to ensure that we are fully briefed on all aspects of the event.

In the end, a good mornings fun by all who participated.

DATABASE – C D DISTRIBUTION

The Hamnet Database CD is in the post to all Provincial Directors  It is very easy to operate and contains various search engines, which will be upgraded to contain more searches in due course.

The responsibility to maintain the database rests with Francois ZS6BUU and updates will be sent on a regular basis or will be posted on the S.A.R.L. website for downloading purposes.

A new cover or insert will be posted to all members who have already received their CD.  It was found that my telephone number was incorrectly entered.  The later versions have been corrected.  In the meantime, my telephone number should read 679-5260 and not 50.

DECEMBER HOLIDAY SEASON

It is not too soon to start thinking about the upcoming festive season.  All schools close on Wednesday 12th of December indicating that Friday 14 December will probably see the first of the long trek to the coast and other parts of the country.

Monitoring of our preferred emergency frequencies will again be uppermost on our list of daily activities.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Apart from listening to the various bulletins, should there be news from your area for the main bulletin, please send your contributions to either jans@netdial.co.za or francois@overflow.co.za.

Contributions are always welcome and it also supplements the Sunday get together on 10,130 and 7,070.  It also helps to ad some spice to the regular Sunday bulletin.

LATE ITEM

Hamnet Gauteng South is planning a meeting early December to set objectives etc. for 2002.  The date and venue will be announced later this month.  Watch this space.

 

Bulletin Ends