MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls27_0020.txt
Page: 0020
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





                                             SSIFIED








         (1000 mg initially, followed by 750 mg bid) or doxycycline (200
         mg initially, followed by 100 mg q 12 hrs). Supportive therapy
         for shock, fluid volume deficit, and adequacy of airway may all
         be needed.



         PROPHYLAXIS

           Vaccine. A licensed, alum-precipitated, preparation of
         purified Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) has been
         shown to be effective in preventing or significantly reducing
         the incidence of inhalation anthrax. Limited human data
         suggest that after completion of the first three doses of the
         recommended six-dose primary series protection against both
         cutaneous and inhalation anthrax is afforded. Studies in
         rhesus monkeys indicate that good protection is afforded after
         two doses (10-16 days apart) for up to 2 years. It is likely
         that two doses in humans is protective as well, but there is
         too little information to draw firm conclusions. As with all
         vaccines, the degree of protection depends upon the magnitude
         of the challenge dose; vaccine-induced protection is
         undoubtedly overwhelmed by extremely high spore challenge.

           In the present setting, three doses of the vaccine is
         recommended for prophylaxis against inhalation anthrax.
         Contraindications for use are sensitivity to vaccine Components
         (formalin, alum, benzethonium chloride) and/or history of
         clinical anthrax. Reactogenicity is mild to moderate: up to
         6% of recipients will experience mild discomfort at the
         innoculation site for up to 72 hours (tenderness, erythema,
         edema, pruritus), while a smaller proportion (I%) will
         experience more severe local reactions (potentially limiting
         use of the extremity for 1-2 days); modest systemic reactions
         (myalgia, malaise, low-grade fever) are uncommon, and severe
ystemic reactions (anaphylaxis, which precludes additional
         vaccination) are rare. The vaccine should be stored at
         refrigerator temperature (@ frozen).


         ANTIBIOTICS

           Choice of antibiotics for prophylaxis is guided by the same
         principles as that for treatment; i.e., it is relatively easy
         to produce a penicillin-resistant organism in the laboratory,



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                                       UNCLASSIFIED

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