MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls27_0028.txt
Page: 0028
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




                                      UNCLASSIFIED








         lymphadenitis involving a node draining the site of
         inoculation. most commonly, the primary site is inguinal,
         although axillary or cervical nodes may be involved. The
         involved nodes are swollen and tender, becoming fluctuant and
         necrotic. Bubonic plague may progress spontaneously to the
         septicemic form, which may then produce CNS or (less
         frequently) pneumonic disease. Onset of primary septicemic
         plague is similar, but without localizing "bubo". Infection by
         flea bite or other cutaneous inoculation would most likely
         produce bubonic or primary septicemic disease in most
         individuals. In primary pneumonic plague, the incubation
         period is shorter (1-6 days). Progressive respiratory
         insufficiency, bloody sputum, and toxemia are typical.
         Patients with pneumonia are highly contagious and should be
         kept in respiratory isolation. Although some patients with
         bubonic or septicemic plague may develop secondary pneumonia as
         the disease process evolves, large numbers of individuals with
         plague pneumonia almost certainly would indicate inhalation of
         organisms delivered via aerosol.


         DIAGNOSIS

              Routing Laboratory Findings. Examination of bubo
            aspirate, sputum, or cerebrospinal fluid by gram stain will
            reveal numerous organisms typical morphologically of
            Yersinia pestis.

            0 Differential Diagnosis. Bubonic plague should be
            suspected in large numbers of individuals with similar
            findings of fever, malaise, and tender lymphadenopathy. An
            epidemic of pneumonic plague in its early stages could be
            confused with tularemia, anthrax, or SEB; continued
            deterioration without stabilization effectively rules out
            SEB, while gram stain of the sputum, culture, and presence
         of the plague Fl antigen in blood specimens provide more
            specific evidence of plague.

              Specific Laboratory Diaanosis. Yersinia Destis can be
            readily cultured from blood, sputum, and bubo aspirates.
            Presumptive diagnosis can be made by gram stain and (if
            available) immunofluroscent staining. Most naturally
            occurring strains of Y. pestis an "Fl" antigen in-vivo,
            which can be detected in serum samples by immunoassays
            available in field diagnosis laboratories.


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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