INTERIM MEDICAL DOCTRINE BW DEFENSE AGAINST ANTHRAX

File: 123096_sep96_decls12_0014.txt
Page: 0014
Total Pages: 32

Subject: INTERIM MEDICAL DOCTRINE BW DEFENSE AGAINST ANTHRAX             

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003201

Folder Title: CAUTIONARY NOTE                                                                                 

Document Number:          2

Folder Seq  #:         14











                                                                  23 Dec 90


                  MEDICAL BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) DEFENSIVE DOCTRINE
                             FOR OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

        1. The primary defensive measures against all forms of BW agents
        are individual protection and collective protection.

        2. The best pre-exposure protection is immunization. For
        Operation Desert Shield, those service members (SM) identified as
        "at risk" should be vaccinated with anthrax vaccine and botulinum
        toxoid.

        3. Antibiotics in conjunction with immunization (either primary or
        booster) or antitoxin provide protection against anthrax and
        against botulinum toxin, respectively, following exposure. These
        modalities are most effective prior to onset of clinical illness.

        4. Anthrax

            a. Pre-exposure vaccination - The anthrax vaccine (0.5 ml
        doses) is given at day 0, 14, and 28 with 3 additional doses given
        at six month intervals. For operation Desert Shield the modified
        series is given at day 0 and 14. Significant levels of antibody
        and a protective level against anthrax can be expected two weeks
        after the second vaccination.

            b. Post-exposure treatment

                (1) All SM will be issued a blister pack of ten
        Ciprofloxacin tablets (500 mg) with instructions to take one tablet
        every 12 hours. The decision to begin taking the antibiotic will
        be made by the tactical commander based on confirmation of exposure
        or high probability of exposure. The tactical commander will be
        advised by his Intelligence officer, Surgeon, and Chemical
        officer. Other indicators of a BW attack are warning from the few
        BW detectors deployed in-country at selected sites and the NBC
        Reporting System.

                (2) If an attack with anthrax has been confirmed, the SM
ies. In addition, ciprofloxacin
        antibiotic treatment will continue for at least 30 days. If
        suspicious clinical symptoms occur, SM will be treated with oral
        Ciprofloxacin (1000 mg loading dose, then 750 mg twice daily) or
        intravenous doxycycline (200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg twice
        daily). (Parenteral Ciprofloxacin is not available at the present
        time.)

Document 32 f:/Week-36/BX003201/CAUTIONARY NOTE/interim medical doctrine bw defense against anth:12179609280113
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003201
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CAUTIONARY NOTE
Folder Seq # = 14
Subject = INTERIM MEDICAL DOCTRINE BW DEFENSE AGAINST ANTH
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 = 17-DEC-1996