Previous Swine Flu Outbreak Originated At Fort Dix

Mass vaccination program was halted after hundreds contracted debilitating nerve disease. Given the reports of the possibility of a swine flu epidemic, it is interesting to note that last time there was a significant outbreak of a new form of swine flu in the U.S. it originated at the army base at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Hundreds of soldiers on the base, mostly recruits, were infected without becoming ill in 1976. President Gerald Ford immediately ordered a nationwide vaccination program. More than 40 million people were vaccinated. However, the program was stopped short after over 500 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a severe paralyzing nerve disease, were reported. 30 people died as a direct result of the vaccinations.

Unanswered questions regarding the outbreak remain to this day. According to a CDC investigation, It is not known why the virus did not extend beyond basic trainees or beyond the military base. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration remain unknown.

Previous reports of attempts to use influenza as a bio weapon, should also have us asking concerned questions.

Indonesia’s Health Minister has implicated the U.S. government in an international conspiracy to develop the bird flu virus into a deadly bio-weapon in a new book which is also endorsed by Indonesia's President.

Supari accuses the U.S. government of seeking a monopoly on controlling the virus for two reasons. Firstly to be able to dominate the vaccine market and make vast profits from providing the cure and secondly to potentially develop the strain into a potent biological weapon.

These concerns led to Indonesia halting the sharing of virus samples with the World Health Organization in late 2006 after Supari accused the Australian government of stealing Indonesia’s strain of H5N1 to make bird flu vaccines.

"I never, I never give permission to send sample to the, send a specimen of the virus to Australia," said Supari.

Supari was also alarmed at the fact that the WHO shared samples with the United States national laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where nuclear weapons are developed.

"Whether they use is it to make vaccine or develop chemical weapons, would depend on the need and interest of the US Government. It is indeed a very dangerous situation for the destiny of humanity". it is a matter of choice whether to use the material for vaccines or biological weapon development," said Supari.