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Subject: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL                     

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003201

Folder Title: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL                                                     

Document Number:       1001

Folder Seq  #:         31




                                         UNCLASSIFIED









                                      SECTION I



                     MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL


                                     INTRODUCTION


             Biological warfare is the use of microorganisms or toxins
           derived from living organisms to produce death or disease in
           humans, animals, or plants. In spite of the 1972 Biological
           Weapons Convention prohibiting the use of biological warfare
           agents, concern over compliance remains. It is possible that
           allied forces may be exposed to biological weapons.
           Characteristics of many live agents and toxins make them
           potentially effective for offensive military use. These agents
           can provide a readily available and effective weapon in the
           hands of terrorists as well as assassins.

             Delivery systems for biological warfare agents most commonly
           generate invisible aerosol clouds with particles or droplets of
           greater than 10 microns (m). They can remain suspended for
           extensive periods. The major risk is pulmonary retention of
           inhaled particles. To a much lesser extent, particles may
           adhere to an individual or his clothing. The effective area
           covered varies with many factors, including wind speed,
           humidity, and sunlight. In the absence of direct evidence of
           an attack, the first clue would be mass casualties fitting a
           clinical pattern compatible with one of the biological agents.
           This may occur hours or days after the attack. Toxins may
           cause direct pulmonary toxicity or be absorbed and cause
           systemic toxicity. Toxins are frequently as potent or more
           potent by inhalation than by any other route. A unique
           clinical picture may sometimes be seen which is not observed by
occal
           enterotoxin B (SEB) exposure). Mucous membranes, including
           conjunctivae, are also vulnerable to many biological warfare
           agents. Physical protection is then quite important and use of
           full-face masks equipped with small-particle filters assumes a
           high degree of importance.

             . Oral: Other routes for delivery of biological weapons
             are thought to be less important, but are nonetheless
             potentially significant. Contamination of food and water
             supplies, either directly or secondarily after an aerosol
             biological warfare attack, represents a hazard for infection


                                           1
                                    UNCLASSIFIED

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Document 23 f:/Week-36/BX003201/MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL/medical defense against biological material:12249609313138
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003201
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
Folder Seq # = 31
Subject = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
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