A nice cuppa tea may cure anthrax, er?

[SteveGrenard]

April Fools Joke or the real deal?

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/03/14/diluting-
the-deadly-effects-of-anthrax-with-a-nice-cup-of-tea-91466-20621052/


Diluting the deadly effects of anthrax - with a nice cup of tea
----------------------------------------------------------
Scientists from a Welsh university have discovered a potential
antidote to the deadly bio-terrorism weapon anthrax -- the humble cup
of tea.

More at above URL. If this didn't carry a date of 14 March one would have to wonder.
It pits tea against coffee and incidentally says the tea doesn't work if laced with milk.
Only the straight stuff works.

[Aitch]

Well, it worked for Steven Segal in The Patriot (in the UK, this film bypassed video and went straight to Sky-TV :boggled: )

[Deetee]

Sounds like an April fool to me in the light-hearted way they discuss drinking tea when you get anthrax.
“But I like the idea a nice cup of tea could help to get you through a moment of terror. It’s a very British way of dealing with a problem.”
But that’s tea without milk. The scientists found that adding milk negated tea’s antibacterial qualities, leaving it useless against the biological weapon.
Professor Baillie continued, “I would suggest that in the event that we are faced with a potential bio-terror attack, individuals may want to forgo their dash of milk, at least until the situation is under control.
“What’s more, given the ability of tea to bring solace and steady the mind, and to inactivate bacillus anthracis and its toxin, perhaps the Boston Tea Party was not such a good idea after all.”

But I guess they did find something, which is not surprising, as many chemicals may inhibit the growth of bacteria. It's just that precious few of them find any practical application. I suppose the "tea" connection makes a nice media story, and gives their department some free publicity.

Googling gives 1100 cites (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=anthrax+cardiff+baillie&meta=) for the association of anthrax/cardiff/baillie