MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls27_0007.txt
Page: 0007
Total Pages: 34

Subject: MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL             

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 3106                                                         

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         28
















                 MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL



                                       GENERAL




            The purpose of this paper is to provide an overall view of the
         problems that might be created in a biological operation and of
         the methods of handling these problems. Experimental and
         theoretical considerations underlie the concepts set forth. The
         paper is not meant to be all inclusive. Additional information is
         available from existing textbooks on infectious diseases. The
         report of the American Public Health Association "Control of
         Communicable Disease in Man" (published by The American Public
         Health Association, 1015 Fifteenth Street NW, Washington, DC
         20005) is particularly recommended.


             In the event of a biological attack, the most important factor
         in providing operationally relevant information and adequate
         medical management will be the rapid establishment of an accurate,
         specific etiologic diagnosis. In contrast to naturally occurring
         epidemics, in which the disease incidence increases over a period
         of weeks or months an artificially induced epidemic will peak in a
         few hours or days. Since a biological attack may be silent or
         nearly so, the first indication of an attack may well be the
         appearance of a wave of casualties. Early clinical signs and
         symptoms may be non-specific or atypical of the natural disease.
         Medical personnel may be unable to differentiate natural disease
         epidemics from overt or covert enemy attacks. The incubation
         period of most infectious diseases is variable, but may be as long
         as 3 weeks. Onset of illness following exposure to toxic agents
         may range from minutes to hours. Considerable time may elapse
         following a biological attack before the extent of the exposure is
agents are transmissible
         among humans, so spread after the initial attack may be important.








                                          I

Document 34 f:/Week-36/BX003203/FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 3106/medical countermeasures against biological mater:12179609282028
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 3106
Folder Seq # = 28
Subject = MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATER
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