SPECIAL WEEKLY WIRE 48-90B Filename:80211112 PATHFINDER RECORD NUMBER: 11112 GENDATE: 950622 NNNN TEXT: ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX103 MCN = 90342/07448 TOR = 903420335 PTTSZYUW RUEKJCS0147 3420337- --RUEALGX. ZNY HEADER P 080337Z DEC 90 FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUEALGX/SAFE P 071600Z DEC 90 ZEX FM DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD //AFMIC IS// TO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/BLT THREE SLANT EIGHT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/33TFW DEPLOYED //IN// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/354TACHOSP DEPLOYED //SG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/435TAW DEPLOYED //SG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MAG THIRTEEN FWD //S2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MAG SIXTEEN (REAR) //S2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MAG TWO FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MAG TWO SIX //S2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MAG THREE ONE //S2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CG SIXTH MEB //G4/MED// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CG EIGHTH MEB RULYSCC/RULYSCC/FIRST MEDBN FIRST FSSG RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CG I MEF (RCAR) //G2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CG I MEF (FWD) //SURG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/TWO EIGHT MEU RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MSSG TWO FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/3D SRI GRP III MEF RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMCARAIRWING THIRTEEN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMCRUDESGRU TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMCRUDESGRU FIVE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMCRUDESGRU TWELVE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON SIX RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON TEN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON FOURTEEN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON TWO TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON TWO FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON TWO SIX RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON THREE TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMDESRON THREE SIX RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMEODGRU TWO //N8// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMIDEASTFOR //N4// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMINERON TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMNAVSPECWARGRU TWO //MED// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMNAVSURFGRU MED RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON SIX RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON EIGHT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON TEN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON TWELVE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHIBGRU TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMPHVRON TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSECONDFLT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSERVGRU TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON TWO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON EIIHT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMSOCLANT //J2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMUSMARCENT //SURG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMUSNAVCENT //N4// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/COMUSNAVLOGSUPFOR //N4/N9// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CJTF FOUR //J2// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CTF ONE SIX ZERO //AFZBKM B// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CTG ONE SIX EIGHT //NIC.03// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CTG ONE SIX EIGHT PT ONE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/FLEET HOSPITAL FIVE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/FLTSURGTEAM ONE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CG FMFLANT //MED// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/NAVSPECWARUNIT EIGHT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/NAVSUPPFAC ANTIGUA RULYSCC/RULYSCC/PATRON NINETEEN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/PATRON FIVE ZERO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/SECOND FORECONCO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/SECOND MAFC RULYSCC/RULYSCC/SEAL TEAM FOUR RULYSCC/RULYSCC/SEAL TEAM SIX RULYSCC/RULYSCC/SOCCENT (FWD) //SURG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/XVIIIABNCORPS (FWD) //SURG// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MEDTREFAC COMFORT //N4// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/MEDTREFAC MERCY //N4// RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USNS COMFORT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS AMERICA RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS CAPODANNO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS CARL VINSON RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS CORAL SEA RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS ENTERPRISE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS FORRESTAL RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS INDEPENDENCE RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS JOHN HANCOCK RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS JOHN F KENNEDY RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS KITTY HAWK RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS NIMITZ RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS RANGER RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS SAIPAN RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS SARATOGA RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS SYLVANIA RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT RULYSCC/RULYSCC/USS VINCENNES RULYSCC/HQ USCENTCOM DEPLOYED RIYADH SA //J2/SG// RULYSCC/HQ CENTAF DEPLOYED RIYADH SA //SG// RULYSCC/USARCENT DEPLOYED RIYADH SA //MD// RULYSCC/CDR7THTRANSGP DHAHRAN SA //AFFG C-S2// RUCLEUA/CDRUSASC FT RUCKER AL //CSSC-ZM// RUEBMDA/CDR6THINFDIV(L) FT WAINWRIGHT AK //APVR SG// RUCIWMA/CDRTACOM WARREN MI //AMSTA-SF// RUEOHNA/CTOCSE XVIIIABNCORPS FT BRAGG NC RUCLBFA/CDRIII CORPS FT HOOD TX //AFZF GS-CMD// RUWTATA/CDR807THMEDBDE SEAGOVILLE TX //AFKB-GC CT-HS// RUKGNPA/EODTEU TWO FT STORY VA //03// RUKGNPA/CDR11THTRANSBN FT STORY VA //AFFG-I S2// RUEHEY/USDAO CAIRO EG RUFLBJA/CDRJLD VICENZA IT RUCLBFA/CDR1STCAVDIV FT HOOD TX //G2/CM&D// RHIBHAQ/CMO XVIIIABNCORPS (FWD) RHIBHAE/CDR24THINFDIV (FWD) //CM&D/G2// RUFLENX/CMO 82DABNDIV (FWD) RHIBHAR/CDR101STABNDIV AASLT (FWD) //CM&D/G2// RHIIMAA/VMA THREE ONE ONE //S2// AIG 6623 AIG 12630 INFO RULYSCC/RULYSCC/CTF SIX THREE [ b.2. ] DET 2 322ALD DHAHRN SA PM SANG RIYADH SA //AMCPM-NGH// OL H DET 2 322ALD JEDDAH SA TCC FT DETRICK MD BT CONTROLS SECTION 001 OF 002 /*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/ BODY SUBJ: SPECIAL WEEKLY WIRE 48-90B 1. (U) THIS SPECIAL WIRE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AND FURTHER DISSEMINATION OF MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE ON A SUBJECT OF CURRENT INTEREST. CLINICAL REVIEW HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE AFMIC [ b.6. ] 2. (U) TABLE OF CONTENTS A. DESERT SHIELD HYDROGEN SULFIDE INTOXICATION MIMICS CHEMICAL WARFARE (CW) AGENT SYMPTOMS (U) B WORLDWIDE: TERRORIST AND CLANDESTINE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BU) THREAT (U) 3. INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS (U) A. DESERT SHIELD: HYDROGEN SULFIDE INTOXICATION MIMICS CHEMICAL WARFARE (CW) AGENT SYMPTOMS (U) LARGE AMOUNTS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S) GAS ARE PRODUCED BY WEST KUWAITI OIL ("SOUR CRUDE") AND NATURAL GAS WITH HIGH SULFUR/OIL RATIOS. THE H2S BUBBLES OFF OIL ESCAPING FROM THE DEEP, HIGH.PRESSURE WELLS IN THIS AREA. IN ADDITION, AS A DEFENSIVE OPERATION IN KUWAIT, IRAQ REPORTEDLY MAY FLOOD THE GROUND OR FILL TRENCHES WITH THIS HIGH SULFUR PETROLEUM. COMMENT (U) H2S GAS, WHICH IS HEAVIER THAN AMBIENT AIR, IS A RECOGNIZED HAZARD IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY. IT IS A HIGHLY TOXIC' COLORLESS GAS THAT PRODUCES SYMPTOMS WHICH AT RELATIVELY HIGH CONCENTRATIONS MIMIC CW AGENTS SUCH AS THE CYANIDE BLOOD AGENTS. BEGINNING AT CONCENTRATIONS OF 20 TO 30 PARTS PER MILLION (PPM) H2S GAS IS EASILY IDENTIFIED BY ITS DISTINCTIVE ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS. HOWCVER. AT CONCENTRATIONS AROUND 100 TO 150 PPM, IT PRODUCES A RAPID PARALYSIS OF THE OLFACTORY NERVE ENDINGS THAT INHIBITS DETECTION. (U) THE DEGREE AND SEVERITY OF H2S INTOXICATION ARE DETERMINED BY THE CONCENTRATION AND DURATION OF EXPOSURE. H2S IS RAPIDLY DETOXIFIED IN THE BODY, AND THE SYMPTOMS MOST COMMONLY SEEN AT LOW TO MODERATE CONCENTRATIONS (UP TO 300 PPM) FROM LOCAL TISSUE IRRITATION DEVELOP SLOWLY AND PROGRESS TO SYSTEMIC INTOXICATION OVER A PERIOD OF HOURS. THE LOCAL TISSUE SYMPTOMS OF KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS. TEARING, PHOTOPHOBIA, VISUAL "COLORED HALOS," TRACHEOBRONCHITIS, AND PROFUSE SALIVATION MAY NOT BE SEEN AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. SYSTEMIC TOXICITY (VOMITING, TACHYPNEA, TACHYCARDIA, AND MUSCLE CRAMPS) IS MANIFESTED WITHIN 30 MINUTES AT CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN 500 PPM AND 700 PPM. AT H2S CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE 700 PPM, ABRUPT CARDIORESPIRITORY ARREST OCCURS. A FEW BREATHS OF H2S AT 1'000 PPM CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN COLLAPSE, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, AND DEATH FROM RESPIRATORY PARALYSIS WITHOUT EVEN A WARNING CRY. (U) BECAUSE THE DISTINCTIVE ODOR IS APPARENT ONLY AT LOW TO MODERATE VAPOR CONCENTRATIONS DONNING OF A READILY AVAILABLE PROTECTIVE CHEMICAL MASK WILL REDUCE THE DEGREE OF INTOXICATION. TROOPS SUDDENLY EXPOSED TO CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE 400 PPM MAY NOT DETECT THE ODOR OF H2S, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LETHAL INTOXICATIONS THAT MIMIC CW AGENT INTOXICATIONS. A LIKELY SCENARIO WOULD BE REMOVAL OF THE PROTECTIVE CHEMICAL MASK IN AN H2S AREA AND LEAVING IT OFF WHEN NO ODOR IS DETECTED. THE RAPID ONSET OF DIZZINESS, CONFUSION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA, AND WEAKNESS MAY PREVENT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM DONNING THE PROTECTIVE MASK BEFORE LAPSING INTO COMA. AT INTENSE AND SUSTAINED EXPOSURES, CASUALTIES RAPIDLY BECOME APNEIC AND EXHIBIT ANOXIC CONVULSIONS. DEATH RESULTS FROM CENTRAL RESPIRATORY PARALYSIS. FOR MILD EXPOSURES IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL BREATHING, PROMPT AID IN APPLYING THE CHEMICAL MASK AND REMOVING THC VICTIM FROM THE AREA INTO FRESH AIR OR APPLYING OXYGEN (FIELD MANUAL 8-285) SHOULD RESULT IN COMPLETE RECOVERY IN THE LONG TERM. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURES INVOLVING RESPIRATORY PARALYSIS ARE BEST TREATED WITH ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SODIUM NITRITE VIA THE INTRAVENOUS ROUTE TO INDUCE METHEMOGLOBINEMIA. METHEMOGLOBIN WILL BIND THE SULFIDE IONS AND LIMIT THEIR INFLUENCE UPON CELLULAR ENZYMES. SUBSEQUENT ADMINISTRATION OF SODIUM THIOSULFATE IS OF LITTLE ADDITIONAL VALUE. SULFHEMOGLOBIN IS NOT OF SIGNIFICANCE IN H2S INTOXICATION. MORBIDITY FROM BOTH BRAIN STEM AND CORTICAL PATHOLOGIC SEQUELAE SUCH AS AMNESIA, NEURASTHENIA TREMOR, AND PROBLEMS WITH EQUILIBRIUM USUALLY PERSISTS FOR SOME TIME. (U) RULING OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ACTUAL CW AGENT ATTACK, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY OBVIOUS MILITARY ACTION, CAN BE FACILITATED BY NOTING THE PRESENCE OF OIL WELLS OR SOUR CRUDE ON THE GROUND OR IN TRENCHES, AND RAPID REVIVAL OF THE CASUALTY AFTER RECEIVING FRESH AIR OR HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF STORED OXYGEN. (U) THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ARMY SURGEON GENERAL. SPECIAL CLINICAL REVIEW AND CONTRIBUTIONS WERE PROVIDED BY THE AFMIC SURGEON [ (b)(6) ], FOR U.S. MEDICAL TREATMENT ISSUES, POC IS [ (b)(6) ]. FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE ON CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT, POC IS[ (b)(6) ], AFMIC S&TI, (ANALYST -[ (b)(6) ] B. WORLDWIDE: TERRORIST AND CLANDESTINE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) THREAT (U) THE PRESENCE OF A HEAVY U.S. TROOP CONCENTRATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAS RESULTED IN A THREAT OF WIDESPREAD TERRORIST OR COVERT ATTACK AGAINST U.S. AND ALLIED TARGETS. SUCH ACTION MIGHT BE UNDERTAKEN BY CLANDESTINE IRAQI MILITARY UNITS, BY STATE-SPONSORED TERRORIST GROUPS, OR BY SMALL GROUPS OF INDEPENDENT OR INDIVIDUAL TERRORISTS SINCE SEVERAL MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING IRAQ, HAVE BW PROGRAMS, A HEIGHTENED PROBABILITY EXISTS FOR BW AGENT USE IN COVERT ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIAN OR MILITARY TARGETS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] COMMENT: [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] [ (b)(6) ]