“PROGRESS” IN WARFARE DEFINED BY “SCIENTISTS” IN UNITED STATES

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1947, Page 5

“PROGRESS” IN WARFARE DEFINED BY “SCIENTISTS” IN UNITED STATES

The Diseases that Kill Most—and Kill Quickest

(Rec. 6.30) NEW YORK, May 18. Thirty-three diseases of man, plants and animals, possibly useful in a bacteriological war, are described, with the War Department’s permission, in the “Journal of Immunology.” A report, which was prepared, for public information, bv .scientists who worked on biological warfare during the war, says: Airborne infections that people get by breathing are the greatest menaces. Water and food-borne diseases are not considered as likely to succeed. The most effective diseases are: (1) A type of Tularemia (rabbit fever) that spreads in the air, and causes pneumonia. (2) Pneumonic plague. (3) Meliodosis, which attacks the lungs. Other diseases, useful in bacteriological war, are: Psittacosis, yellow fever, anthrax and undulant fever.

pox, cholera and typhoid, which can Rejected diseases include smallbe countered by vaccination; and leprosy, which takes too long to incubate. Also most of the common pneumonias, which lack sufficient infecticity; venereal diseases because they are considered too difficult • to spread. Aeroplanes are consideredthe best disease-spreaders, because they can scatter widely germs and'viruses that have been dried in cultures. Chemical fogs can be used to enable infections to seep indoors. Glyceiine and other mists can concentrate infections on target areas. The report says that even small nations and innocent-looking legitimate medical laboratories can produce material for bacteriological war.

There are passive defence measures outlined, and include masks and material for mass immunisations.