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Subject: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL                     

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003202

Folder Title: DOCUMENT LISTING FOR PROJECT BADGER                                                             

Document Number:          3

Folder Seq  #:          1




                                          UNCLASSIFIED










                                  S@Y OF SECTION 11



               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.


            E&@ Y l@Ilg THE BW @@TIUQ

               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
     constipation. These changes       easily obsciii:e the
               correct diagnosis in a soldier who used his injector even
               without exposure to an agent.



                                          17



                                         UNCLASSIFIED

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Document 23 f:/Week-36/BX003202/DOCUMENT LISTING FOR PROJECT BADGER/medical defense against biological material:12069615355829
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003202
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DOCUMENT LISTING FOR PROJECT BADGER
Folder Seq # = 1
Subject = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
Document Seq # = 3
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 = 06-DEC-1996