MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls27_0009.txt
Page: 0009
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









         greater over successive hours or days until a peak is reached. An
         exception to this aspect would be an attack with biological
         toxin(s) which might create an immediate dramatic mass situation.

             Although most activities of medical management would take
         place a considerable period of time after the biological attack
         itself, physical measures such as decontamination and collective
         protection will still have to be considered. This could be
         particularly important if the situation necessitated a prolonged
         stay in a presumptively infected area.

             There is little question that many human deaths would occur if
         an effective attack with a biological agent were mounted. This
         would be true even if the so called incapacitating agents were
         employed and would occur particularly among the very young, the
         very old, and those suffering from underlying disease or some
         other form of weakening stress. If, however, reasonable adequate
         shelter can be provided, food and fluid intake can be maintained
         and specific medication, if applicable, can be distributed and
         administered, an acceptable level of medical care could be
         provided for the vast majority of those becoming ill.


         HEALTH ASPE=

             Following an effective attack, depending upon the agent
         employed, the application of general preventive medicine
         principles may be of importance. The tendency of individuals in
         an emergency situation to become careless regarding food and water
         sanitation, general hygiene and other common disease control
         measures, could produce detrimental effects. A breakdown in such
         measures could be a significant cause of secondary spread of
         disease. The problems of maintaining proper water and food
         hygiene conditions will differ from soldiers at the front to those
d even more to the civilian population with
         little or no education in the field and with various possibilities
         to get support and advice from a total defense system.

             Following a biological agent attack, all food except canned or
         otherwise well protected food, should be thoroughly cooked prior
         to consumption. All food should be inspected to ensure that is
         was adequately protected while exposed to the infectious cloud.
         Thorough cooking would make foods safe for consumption unless they
         are contaminated with certain heat stable toxins. Thorough
         cooking means that all parts have been heated close to the boiling





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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