MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 970101_sep96_decls37_0014.txt
Page: 0014
Total Pages: 23

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










              The non-specific findings of fever, non-productive cough,
           myalgia, and headache occurring in large numbers of patients in
           an epidemic setting would suggest any of several infectious
           respiratory pathogens, particularly influenza, adenovirus, or
           mycoplasma. In a single biological warfare attack with SEB,
           cases would likely have their onset within a single day, while
           these other, naturally occurring, outbreaks would present over
           a more prolonged interval. Naturally occurring outbreaks of Q
           fever and tularemia might cause confusion, but would involve
           much smaller numbers of individuals, and would more likely be
           accompanied by pulmonary infiltrates.

              The dyspnea of botulism is associated with obvious signs of
           muscular paralysis; its cholinergic blocking effects result in
           a dry respiratory tree, and patients are afebrile. Inhalation
           of nerve agent may lead to weakness, dyspnea, and copious
           secretions. The early clinical manifestations of inhalation
           anthrax, tularemia, or plague may be similar to those of SEB.
           However, rapid progression of respiratory signs and symptoms to
           a stable state distinguishes SEB intoxication. Mustard
           exposure would have marked vesication of the skin in addition
           to the pulmonary injury.

              . Specific Laboratory Diagposis. Toxin is cleared from the
              serum rapidly and is difficult to detect by the time of
              symptom onset. Nevertheless, specific laboratory tests are
              available to detect SEB (see Section III) and serum should
              be collected as early as possible after exposure. In
              situations where many individuals are symptomatic, sera
              should be obtained from those not yet showing evidence of
 disease. Most patients develop a significant
              antibody response, but this may require 2-4 weeks.


           THERAPY. Treatment is limited to supportive care.


                         There currently is no prophylaxis for SEB
           intoxication. Experimental immunization has protected monkeys,
           but no vaccine is presently available for human use.







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                                          UNCLASSIFIED

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