DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0072.txt
Page: 0072
Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21











                   also on volunteers as well as     I nc i dent a I IaboraL or y in I eCL I on s , have shown
                   Chat Lhis criterion IS MeL by     the catisal I ve agenLS Of tu I a remi a (Franc i se] I a
                   LU I arensis ) , Q fever (Cox i e II a burneLL i ) and Venezue Ian equine encepha I i Li S (a
                   togavirus).   The respiratory intecti-ve dose for humans Of Lularemia was found
                   Lo be as low as 1-10 Organisms. In Lerms of weighl this is much lower than
                   the minimal effective dose of the most PoLenL toxins.

                   CONI'ACION


                   206.   'i@)e ncerLainLy and unprediCLabiliLy Of Lr-,t: epidemic spread of disease
                   due Lo highly contagious microorganisms renders the use of such agenLS
                   undesi rabi e, a ILhough Lhi s type of attack could be used against i sot at ed
                   LargeLS such as ships or convoys. Destruction Of these targets after the
                   biological aLLaCk is POSSitle WiLhOUL close contact SO there will be no risk
                   for secondary spread.

                   !-ET] I ALI TY

                   207.   Biological agents are CaLegorized arbitrarily as lelhal or
                   incapacitating. Lethal agents are Chose Chat produce disease Chat, if
                   untreated, could be expected LO produce mortality of 10% or greater.
                   Incapacitating agents, although they may occasionally'cause death in infants,
                   elderly persons or those with underlying disease, would be expected to be
                   nonlethal Lo healthy adults. Although it might be expected for political and
                   humanitarian reasons that incapacitating agents would be employed rather Chan
                   lethal agents, the lethal agenLS may be used to attack key MiliLary targets,
                   particularly if Chat target is also isolated.

                   INCUBATION PERIOD


                208.   The predictability of the eitecc of a biological attack used for
                   Lactical purposes is hampered by the variations in incubation period which are
                   due to the normal spread of individual resistance, the size of the inoculum,
                   the virulence of the microorganisms and the route of entry. For tactical
                   purposes, microorganisms producing disease WiLh a long incubation would, in
                   most circumstances be undesirable. However, on transition LO war, the
                   incubation time may not be that important. To hamper the defensive
                   preparations an attack With a microorganism With a longer incubation period
                   which mimics an epidemic With a local naturally occurring microorganism could
                   be effective and extremely difficult to identify as an attack.

                   OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

                   209.   The susceptibility of the target population is an important factor in
                   the selection of biological agents. If prophylactic measures such as
                   vaccinations are Al routinely carried out or if sufficient amounts Of vaccine or
                   chemOLherapeuti cs are available right after the attack, the corresponding
                   offensive agent is less likely to be chosen.

                   210.   Yet we Should not overestimate the value of the availability of
                   effective LherapeuLiC measures since considerable time Most probably will have
                   elapsed before accurate diagnosis is made and susceptibility patterns have
                   been established.   The existence of an effective therapy (drugs or


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Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
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 = 17-DEC-1996