STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE

File: 970101_sep96_decls28_0021.txt
Page: 0021
Total Pages: 24

Subject: STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE                        

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003201

Folder Title: STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE SUPPORT                                                

Document Number:       1001

Folder Seq  #:         67







                     Medical personnel may be the first to detect a biological warfare attack by
              recognizing an outbreak of illness that does not fit with normal baseline disease patterns in
              the population that they serve. Some characteristics include the wrong disease for a locality
              and time, extreme virulence, high case fatality rates, wide separation of point source
              outbreaks of the same illness, and simultaneous outbreaks of two or more unrelated
              illnesses. As with chemical warfare agents, biological agents can be lethal, such as anthrax
              and botulinum toxin, or only incapacitating, such as SEB. Some biological agents, such as
              anthrax spores, may be extraordinarily persistent under certain climatic conditions.
              Desirable characteristics of a biological warfare agent from the point of view of an aggressor
              might well include short incubation period, ease of production and storage, high virulence,
              and existence of an effective vaccine or therapy in the hands of the user. Known natural
              occurrence of the same disease in the target area would be desirable for deniabilty of actual
              use. Extreme contagiousness of a disease, on the other hand, would be a disadvantage,
              putting the aggressors own troops or population at risk.

                     In view of the openly reported holding by Iraq of anthrax, botulinum toxin, and SEB,
              military physicians should become familiar with the standard text descriptions of the illnesses
              caused by these agents. The most probable means of dissemination of the agents is by
              aerosol. Our standard chemical protective masks and MOPP gear provide 100% effective
              protection against these aerosolized agents. Biological fluids such as blood and urine may
              be submitted for testing when medical personnel suspect a biological attack. A sample
          collection team with appropriate contairunent, chain of custody, and security capability for
              this purpose should be requested through unit intelligence channels.

                     Anthrax is a natural ariimal disease of herbivores produced by the Gram positive
              spore-fomiing organism Bacillus anthracis. Until the development of an effective vaccine,
              it was a major problem for workers in such occupations as wool sorting who were at risk for
              contracting inhalation anthrax, the most severe of three forms of the disease. Most cases
              of human anthrax are cutaneous, consisting of a painless papule that forms a pustule, often
              surrounded by satellite lesions. 'ne boxcar-like organisms can be seen in smears of the
              pustule, response to penicillin therapy is good, and case fatality is low. Gastrointestinal
              anthrax, resulting from ingestion of heavily contaminated or undercooked meat, may cause
              enteritis, hemorrhagic mesenteric adenitis, ascites, and sepsis, but also responds well to
              penicillin therapy.

                     The most severe form of anthrax results from inhalation of spores, which have their
              best capability of penetrating to the alveoli in particles of size 3 to 5 microns. After a short
              incubation period of 1 to 6 days, a biphasic illness begins with a multisystem influenza-like
              prodrome, followed by a severe phase characterized by hemorrhagic mediastinitis with a
              widened mediastinum and clear lung fields on chest films, and sepsis often leading to
              meningitis. The case fatality rate for inhalation anthrax is over 90%, even with high dose
              intravenous penicillin therapy. The anthrax vaccine provides effective protection from
              aerosol exposure in industry after a 2-shot primary immunization series. Recent work at
dose administered promptly after inhalation

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Document 24 f:/Week-36/BX003201/STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE SUPPORT/status of usamrdc chemical casualty care:12249609312729
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003201
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE SUPPORT
Folder Seq # = 67
Subject = STATUS OF USAMRDC CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE
Document Seq # = 1001
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 = 24-DEC-1996