CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MGMT OF BW CASUALTIES

File: 092496_sep96_decls2_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 9

Subject: CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MGMT OF BW CASUALTIES               

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003204

Folder Title: CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BW CASUALTIES                                         

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:         23





                                                                     UNCLASSIFIED



                                                                             ANNEX B TO
                                                                             D/SG(OPS)483/2/7/4
                                                                             DATED i   0 90

                             CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BW CASUALTIES

                  ANTHRAX


                  1.  General Descriotion. Anthrax is a lethal and non transmissable BW agent.

                  Dissemination is likely to be of spores in aerosol form. Good protection

                  against infection is afforded by the SIO Respirator. However the agent could

                  well be used covertly and currently it is unlikely that the SIO Respirator will

                  be worn as a protective measure against such attacks.


                  2.  Clinical Features. Symptoms are of gradual onset and are of a non specif4c

                  nature with fever, malaise and fatigue. This phase may last for up to 2 or 3

                  days and the patient's condition, initially, may not give rise to concern.

                  There is then an abrupt deterioriation with respiratory distress, dyspnoea,

                  stridor and cyanosis. Haemoptysis or haematemesis may occur. The physical fin-

                  dings may then include evidence of pleural effusion. oedema of the chest wall

                  and meningitis. Widening of the mediastinum on X-ray is very suggestive of the

                  diagnosis. Without treatment death follows in 24-36 hours.


                  3.  Clinical Diaonosis. The occurrence of a large number of cases with non-

                  specific symptoms suggests the possibility of an attack. Early indication that

                  an attack has occurred may be obtained by the use of Standby Assay Kit (SAK).


 blood smears may suggest the

                  diagnosis but is unlikely to be positive until the case is near terminal. The

                  stain of choice is Macfadyean's stain (a matured methylene blue). Culture of

                  blood on routine media and cultures of pleural fluid or CSF may also give a




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                                                                    UNCLASSIFIED
                  ROW 142 (WDSB)JA                                  CLASSIFIED ON 19 Sep 1996 PER
                                                                SEC ARMY (DAMH) UNDER SEC 3.4
                                                                EO 12958

Document 9 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BW CASUALTIES/clinical identification and mgmt of bw casualtie:0920961557092
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003204
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BW CASUALTIES
Folder Seq # = 23
Subject = CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MGMT OF BW CASUALTIE
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 20-SEP-1996