This manual, Army Techniques Publication ATP 4-02.84 MCRP 3-40A.3 NTRP 4-02.23 AFMAN 44-156_IP Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Treatment of Biological Warfare Agent Casualties November 2019, provides doctrinal guidance for classification of biological agents (bacterial, viral, or toxin), recognition and treatment of biological warfare agent casualties, and identification technologies. This publication generally remains consistent with the last version of this publication on key topics while adopting updated terminology and concepts as necessary. Army Techniques Publication ATP 4-02.84 MCRP 3-40A.3 NTRP 4-02.23 AFMAN 44-156_IP Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Treatment of Biological Warfare Agent Casualties November 2019 describes the classification and description of biological warfare agents associated with military operations; provides procedures for collecting, handling and labeling, shipping, and identifying potential biological warfare agents; describes procedures for medical diagnosis, treatment, and management of biological warfare casualties; and describes medical management and treatment in biological warfare operations. This revision reduces redundancies with principal operations process doctrinal publications and reflects recent changes in guidance, methodology, and terminology. The material in this publication is applicable to the full range of military operations to include major operations and campaigns (including combating terrorism; homeland defense; and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response). It also incorporates changes in the capabilities within each of the Services. Participating Service command offices of primary responsibility will reference and incorporate the guidance provided within this publication into other Service and command manuals, regulations, and curricula as appropriate. The treatment modalities contained in this manual differ from standard textbooks in that they apply to biological warfare agent exposures. The method of exposure for most biological warfare agents is by inhalation; whereas, some endemic exposures (if applicable) are by other means. Some are by ingestion, some by arthropod bites, and others by dermal contact with the agent. This does not preclude Service members from becoming biological warfare casualties by these means. Army Techniques Publication ATP 4-02.84 MCRP 3-40A.3 NTRP 4-02.23 AFMAN 44-156_IP Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Treatment of Biological Warfare Agent Casualties November 2019 consists of six chapters and five appendices— Chapter 1 provides information on the threat, military employment, and classification of biological warfare agents. Chapter 2 discusses epidemiology, warning and detection, surveillance, sample collection, medical reporting, and biological warfare monitoring and assessment. Chapter 3 discusses bacterial agents. Chapter 4 discusses viral agents. Chapter 5 discusses toxin agents. Chapter 6 provides information on identification methods for biological agents. Appendix A discusses specimen collection, handling, and transport. Appendix B provides information on emerging infectious diseases. Appendix C discusses patient decontamination from a biological warfare agent. Appendix D provides information on the medical management and treatment in biological warfare operations. Appendix E provides a biological warfare agent clinical diagnostic algorithm.
