Anthrax Anxiety?

No need to get too scared aboout anthrax.

Dr. Janet Taylor

If you haven't heard of anthrax by now, you are either very lucky or very lucky. The fact is I have now heard that word more than I ever want to again.

Living in New York makes you paranoid enough, now you have to inspect every envelope or piece of mail for some microbe that you can't see, smell or feel. What gives? Should you or I really be worried about it? Whaddya think?

I don't know about you, but I say NO! I mean come on, enough already. Let's talk about anthrax. It is a bacterium, which means that it can be treated with antibiotics. Okay?? Nuff said. Unfortunately, there have been three deaths, but everyone else who has been in contact with Mr. Anthrax has been treated and is doing fine.

So the point is don't worry. Wash your hands. Look at your mail. Use common sense, don't open mail that is not addressed to you, or doesn't have a return address. If you have any doubt, put it in a plastic bag and call the authorities. But don't panic.

There is so much hype about all of the bad things that can hurt us. Let's look for what's good. Have fun. However, don't play practical jokes with powder or anything that can be mistaken for a bacterium that will now be nameless. Putting baby powder or baking soda in an envelope or leaving it around can be pretty serious. Peeps all over the country are getting thrown into the slammer with the key tossed away for a joke that seemed funny at the time.

So have a great day. Stay healthy and keep smiling.