MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREAT EXSUMS

File: 120396_sep96_decls9_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 8

Subject: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREAT  EXSUMS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003203

Folder Title: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREAT                                               

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:          9




                                           UNCLASSIFIED



                                                                27 Aug 90
                                                                SGPS-PSP

                                   INFORMATION PAPER

        SUBJECT: Medical Defense Against Anthrax (U)
        1.  @Purpose: To provide information on medical measures against
        the anthrax (AX) threat for Operation Desert Shield.

        2.  @ Facts:

            a.  @ Intelligence sources indicate that Iraq has weaponized
        anthrax. AX can be disseminated as an aerosol by artillery,
        rockets, and aircraft. It can also be disseminated by small boats
        off shore, small trucks, and other vehicles making it a good
        tactical and terrorist weapon.

            b. t" Although the current Army protective masks and
        collective protection will protect the soldiers, there is no real
        time detector system to alert service members of an AX attack.

            c.  @ It takes 1-6 days for symptoms to appear. Fatality for
        symptomatic pulmonary anthrax in unvaccinated service members is
        greater than 90 percent. Effect is pulmonary failure.

            d.  @ There is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed
        vaccine for AX. W.21@                       M provides a level of
                              ec .5
        protection. Side ettects   are similar to but less severe than a
        typhoid shot. This protection can be overcome with a large exposure
        to AX such as near the source of dissemination.

            e. t" On 22 Aug 90, The Surgeons General of the Army, Navy,
        and Air Force in conference with Dr. Mendez (ASD Health Affairs)
        concurred with the recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee on
        Biological Warfare (Tri-Service) to vaccinate the entire force in
        country with AX vaccine.

            f.  @ Vaccination program will be directed by CENTCOM and
tments. CENTCOM will
        determine priority of vaccination because of initial limited vaccine
        stocks.
                5 USC 522(b)(1).                            5 USC 522(b)(1)
            g. t" Each'service member will receive
        vaccine.             are available now. An additional
                    Table If  the Food and Drug Administration
        will be a                                               al.LOWS
        shipment prior to completion of potency tes         Manufacturing base
        has been surged to supply an additional            of vaccine.

                                             COL Pitt Tomlinson/756-0125
                                             MAJ Robert Eng/756-8163

        CLASSIFIED BY: MULTIPLE SOURCES
        DECLASSIFY ON: OADR


                                       UNCLASSIFIED

Document 8 f:/Week-36/BX003203/MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREAT/medical defense against biological warfare threa:11089615084710
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREAT
Folder Seq # = 9
Subject = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREA
Document Seq # = 1
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 = 08-NOV-1996