DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0027.txt
Page: 0027
Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21




                                                     UNCLASSIFIED




                                                     SECTION I


                                                 @ODUCTION


                      Biological warfare is the use of microorganisms or toxins derived from living


               organisms to produce death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. In spite of the 1972


               Biological Weapons Convention pmhibiting the use of biological warfare agents, concem


               over compliance remains. Information from earlier offensive programs clearly has


               demonstrated the vulnerability of inadequately pro@ troops to such agents. This


               experience, coupled with advances in modem technology, makes it possible that allied forces


               may be exposed to biological weapons. CharacwUtics of many live agents and toxins make


               them potentially effective for offensive military use. These agents can provide a readily


               available and effective weapon in the hands of terrorists as well as assassins.





                      ROUTES OF EXPOSLTRE





                     Inhalation: Biological weapons are dispersed as aerosols by one of two basic


               mechanisms: point- or line-source dissemination. U@ some chemical threats, aerosols of


               agents disseminated byAUe-source munitions (e.g., sprayed by low-flying aircraft or


               speedboat along the coast) do not leave hazardous environmental residua (although anthrax


                                                           2
                                                                                        C)AI)R
                                                UNCLASSIFIED
                                               S E; r. P. F: T-

Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
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