Virus warning
Just received the following from the Lebanese Council of Women (who for some reason have me on their mailing list). You might want to filter the doctor's heated tone and the obvious editorializing (for example the genocide comment), but the allegation, if true, merits attention. I post the letter as is, without knowing who Dr Mahdi speaks for:

The Central Infectious Diseases Laboratory in the heart of Baghdad has been broken into, looted and smashed. Incubators containing many dangerous viruses, including hepatitis, polio, AIDS and many other have been stolen and other containers and incubators have been smashed and strewn all over the area.

There is no public broadcasting service to warn the looters and others of the dangers, and no authorities to take action. Some of the Lab workers have been pleading with ICRC officials and with American military medics to rise up to their responsibilities, but they appear to have been stonewalled.

They believe that this will cause major outbreaks of disease.

Please act urgently. Contact the ICRC, aid agencies, media, politicians. This war is turning into genocide while politicians and the military congratulate each other.

The Lab workers themselves stress that the diseases will not spare the occupation troops themselves.

Dr Kamil Mahdi
University of Exeter