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An anthrax treatment under development by the U.S. government could cause serious
and even fatal complications, United Press International has learned.
Anthrax immune globulin is being developed as a possible response to a bioterror
attack. Mortality from the anthrax letters attack in 2001 was 45 percent.
Preliminary animal studies by the Centers for Disease control show that AIG
can protect against anthrax before exposure. But they also found that AIG does
not protect if it is given after infection -- and can be deadly itself if it
is improperly formulated.
Dr. Meryl Nass, an anthrax expert and a physician in Bar Harbor, Maine, said
she would become concerned if officials tried to use it on an emergency basis
in the event of another anthrax attack.
"Obviously they can't use this stuff," she told UPI. "It might
kill people."
