Ecoli..Could this be chemical warfare?

Question

There are now over 100 people affected by the ecoli that has been found on spinach...Do you think this could be the work of terrorists? Could this be chemical warfare???

Thanks Jeff....Could it be "BIOLOGICAL" warfare???

I like your sense of humor, Jackie!

There happen to be a lot of spinach eaters but not as much as lettuce. Maybe they're just testing the waters...so to speak.

Answer 1

E. coli (short for the bacteria Escherichia coli) is transmitted through feces.

Since before the current outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control has been looking at e. coli as a possible agent in biological warfare. But it's most likely that the current infections were caused by unsafe handling of the spinach early in its distribution chain.

E. coli infection isn't uncommon in the U.S. About 73,000 cases are reported to the CDC each year, with around 60 deaths annually. Unless the spinach outbreak gets much worse, it will fit well within the norm for these kinds of things.

Answer 2

Thanks for the correction to BioWar from an answerer, AND the impressive discourse on the bacteria and it's national statistics with associated hyperlink from another responder !!

E. Coli as Bio Warfare tool ? Sure... just poop in the water supply of the spinach plant... either in the irrigation or washing system.

And REMEMBER... Chemical and Biological Warfare are NOT always about mass casualties... it is a VERY effective Phycological Warfare tool !! Perhaps there are terrorists seeking to weaking America by preventing us from eating our spinach... Popeye HELP US !!
You THEN trust to the efficiency of the US Health System to note the outbreak, report it, and recall all spinach (yes, now the warning is on ALL fresh spinach in the US).

Now... who would do this ? Mexican Radicals seeking the annexation of the Southwest back into Mexico ? A rogue wing of the Minute Men seeking to cause the deportation of migrant workers ? Right-wingers who will use this to prevent a raise in the minimum wage ? Tom Cruise and his church seeking to create the return of their alien gods ? Mel Gibson hoping to kill Jews eating Spinach Blintzes ? The Corporate minions of Birds-Eye, trying to get us all to eat FROZEN spinach ??

RUN, HIDE, Duct Tape your windows !!

Answer 3

No its not the work of terrorists. E coli can be found in animal feces if animals are affected. News has come out that the farm affected was an organic farm. They use manure as a fertilizer and thus an animal whose feces were used for the fertilizer was affected and the spinach was grown in this and had the E coli grown on the leaves. This is NOT a terrorist attack. It would be way to hard to attack our farms, especially with a bacteria like E coli.

Answer 4

E.Coli..or Escherichia Coli....no it's not a biological weapon...actually it is a microorganism that is also present in our body..especially in gastro-genito urinary tract...well,it may contaminate food and inanimate objects by being not properly cleaned...and having not a cleaned hands....but could be synthesized for biological warfare!...but it can be lysed cause it is a bacteria not a virus...but if your concern about eating packed spinach...proper hand washing and thoroughly wash the spinach before eating is the easiest bactericidal which is economically free!...take note!...hand washing!

Answer 5

Nope. I haven't heard of that one. Only 100? Here in the UK thousands of people have died from MRSA in NHS hospitals over the past few years. That's not terrorists either.
Why would terrorists just target spinach eaters? Do they have something against Popeye do you think?

Answer 6

Ecoli is a kind of virus and it has no link to chemical warfare

Answer 7

I doubt it... I would think if they were going to take the time to do something like that, they'd choose something a bit more virulent/dangerous and put it on more than just spinach.

Answer 8

The growers of spinach must be irrigating their crops with untreated water from sewage farms...what a thought. The work of terrorists? Oh for goodness sake don't give them any more ideas please!

Answer 9

No, not really the best way for them to really get us good would be to put something on our money that would cause infection.
I'm not sure how they could do that but money is really nasty and germy and gets into the hands of the young and old alike.

Answer 10

That is exactly what my husband thought on Friday. Also, there is a baby formula recall too. Awfully suspicious!