RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT 20 AUG 90

File: 120396_sep96_decls54_0013.txt
Page: 0013
Total Pages: 16

Subject: RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT 20 AUG 90          

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003201

Folder Title: OPERATION DESERT SHIELD RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT                            

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:         45







                           STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN B



                I     CLINICAL SYNDROME
                Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), produced by SW-hylococcus aureus,
         causes food poisoning when ingested.
                A biowarfare attack with aerosol delivery of SEB to the respiratory tract
         produces a distinct syndrome causing significant morbidity and potential
         mortality.
         Clinical Features: The disease begins 1 to 6 hours after exposure with the
         sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, myalgia, and nonproductive cough. In
         more severe cases, dyspnea and retrostemal chest pain may also be present.
         Fever, which may reach 103-106 F, has lasted 2-5 days, but cough may persist
         1 to 4 weeks. In many patients, nausea, which may be severe, and vomiting
         will also occur. Physical findings are often unremarkable. Conjunctival
         injection may be present, and in the most severe cases, signs of pulmonary
         edema would be expected. The chest X-ray is generally normal, but in severe
         cases, there will be increased interstitial markings, atelectasis, and possibly
         overt pulmonary edema. In moderately severe laboratory exposures, lost duty
         time has been less than 2 weeks, but, based upon animal data, it is anticipated
         that severe exposures will result in fatalities.

                II DIAGNOSIS

                Laboratory findings are non-contributory except for a neutrophilic
         leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
                In foodbome SEB intoxication, fever and respiratory involvement are not
         seen, and gastrointestinal symptoms are prominent.

                III SPECMC LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS


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Document 16 f:/Week-36/BX003201/OPERATION DESERT SHIELD RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT/response to the biological warfare bw threat 20 :11229616342212
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003201
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = OPERATION DESERT SHIELD RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT
Folder Seq # = 45
Subject = RESPONSE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BW THREAT 20
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 = 22-NOV-1996