MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls27_0031.txt
Page: 0031
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









                                 S@Y OF SECTION II



              Avoidance by way of physical protection is the most
            effective approach to biological warfare agent exposure.

              Clinical recognition of symptoms and signs in mass
            casualties may be the first indication of an attack. Patient
            specimens (blood, urine) should not be a unique risk to medical
            personnel, although vegetative anthrax, plague, or tularemia
            organisms may be in blood.


            PARALYSIS IN THE BW/CW SETTING

              The differential diagnosis must include both botulinum and
            nerve agent intoxications:

              . Nerve agent is rapid in onset (minutes to 1-2 hours). A
              rigid paralysis develops with parasympathetic excess
              (salivation, miosis, sweating, involuntary defecation, and
              urination); central nervous system dysfunction and death
              soon follow. If exposure is by aerosol or vapor,
              constricted pupils, rhinorrhea, and broncho constriction
              also occur.

              . Botulinum toxin is slower in onset (3 hours to several
              days). Descending paralysis (bulbar to extremities to
              respiratory) and parasympathetic blockade (dry mouth,
              pupillary dilation, constipation, urinary retention, absence
              of sweating) are characteristic. Paralysis, nausea,
              vomiting, and diarrhea may, however, occur after exposure to
              either nerve agent or botulinum toxin. Central signs
              (confusion, seizure, coma) are rare after botulinum, but
              common after nerve agent intoxication.

              . Anticholinergics, such as atropine can, of course, cause
              central nervous system changes such as agitation, confusion,
              and hallucinations as well as dry mouth, dry skin, and
ese changes could easily obscure the
              correct diagnosis in a soldier who used his injector even
              without exposure to an agent.



                                          17



                                         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