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DATE=8/14/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-237107 TITLE=ANTHRAX PENTAGON - L BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S MILITARY IS STEPPING UP ITS PROGRAM TO PROTECT TROOPS FROM THE THREAT OF GERM WARFARE BY VACCINATING THOUSANDS MORE OF THEM AGAINST DEADLY ANTHRAX. BUT EXPERTS SAY THE PENTAGON MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF TRAINING ITS PEOPLE HOW TO COPE WITH THE MICROBES AND CHEMICALS THEY MAY ENCOUNTER ON FUTURE BATTLEFIELDS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS. TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 10 NATIONS, INCLUDING IRAQ, HAVE PROGRAMS TO TURN DISEASES INTO WEAPONS. THEY SAY U-S TROOPS IN THE PERSIAN GULF AREA FACE THE GREATEST THREAT FROM GERM WEAPONS. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS, DOCTOR SUE BAILEY, SAYS ANTHRAX IS THE MOST LIKELY DISEASE TO LOAD INTO A WARHEAD. /// DR BAILEY ACT 80/// ANTHRAX IS A SIGNIFICANT BATTLEFIELD THREAT. WE HAVE PARTICULAR CONCERN BECAUSE IT IS EASILY WEAPONIZED INTO AN AEROSOL FORM THAT LEADS TO THE DISEASE INHALATION ANTHRAX. /// END ACT /// WHICH DR. BAILEY SAYS IS 99 PERCENT FATAL. SO FAR, 48-THOUSAND U-S SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIR MEN, AND MARINES SERVING IN THE GULF HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST SOME OF THE ANTI-ANTHRAX SHOTS. THE NEXT STEP BEGINS MONDAY WITH THE INOCULATION OF SERVICE MEMBERS HEADED FOR KOREA. SOLDIERS ALREADY SERVING IN KOREA WILL GET SHOTS BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ALL TWO POINT FOUR MILLION ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE MEMBERS OF THE U-S MILITARY WILL GET THE ANTHRAX VACCINE. // OPT // IT TAKES SIX INJECTIONS SPACED OVER 18 MONTHS FOR THE VACCINE TO WORK AS DESIGNED. ANNUAL BOOSTER SHOTS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PROTECTION. // END OPT // PAST PENTAGON VACCINATION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY CRITICIZED FOR POOR RECORD KEEPING, SECRECY AND OTHER PROBLEMS. AND MORE THAN A DOZEN SAILORS AND AIRMEN HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED FOR REFUSING TO TAKE THE SHOTS. DR. BAILEY SAYS THE PENTAGON HAS LEARNED FROM ITS MISTAKES AND IMPROVED COMPUTER TRACKING OF MEDICAL RECORDS, HIRED OUTSIDE SCIENTISTS TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM AND USES A VACCINE WITH A LONG, SAFE TRACK RECORD. SHE SAYS SEVEN SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE GOTTEN MILDLY SICK AFTER THE INJECTIONS. /// DR. BAILEY ACT/// WE HAVE HAD A REMARKABLY LOW ADVERSE REACTION RATE. /// END ACT /// WHILE SOME OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT AMERICAN FIGHTING FORCES FROM GERM WARFARE, THE PENTAGON INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. A RECENT REPORT SAID MOST U-S MILITARY UNITS LACK THE TRAINING NEEDED TO FIGHT EFFECTIVELY ON A CONTAMINATED BATTLEFIELD. THE REPORT SAID MANY SOLDIERS WOULD DIE NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROPERLY. AND THE REPORT SAYS TOO MUCH OF THE CURRENT TRAINING RELIES ON INEFFECTIVE CLASSROOM LECTURES RATHER THAN REALISTIC FIELD EXERCISES. (SIGNED). NEB/JR/WDC/JO 14-Aug-98 4:10 PM EDT (2010 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .