Evening star., 1947-11-28
Stars, Men and Atoms 81.
Chemical Warfare Tests
Made on Purrot Fever
Cubic Centimeter of Virus Could
Infect 20,0OO,OOO Persons
Bp Thomas r. Henry

Less than q cubic centimeter Of virus re-
sponsible for one Of the most deadly human
diseases is sufficient to infect 20.000,0 600 human
beings when released in the air in the form
of an infinitesimably diffuse spray.
This disease is psttacosis, or parrot fever
a highly fatal pneumonia-like malady orig
mating with infected birds.
This extreme virulence of one Of the agents
with which the Chemical Warfare Service was
experimenting at Camp Detrick, Md, during
the war is cited in memorandum on biologi-
cal warfare just submitted to the United Ma.
tions by the Association of Scientific Workers
Accidental Discovery.
This discovery was made accidentally, ac-
cording to an account published in the Jour.
nal of Infectious Diseases by DR.. Theodor
Roseburg, formerly of the Camp DERRICK staff.
when a laboratory worker became infected
with the disease after handling a tightly
sealed glass vial containing sample Of the
virus frozen in dry ice.
It seemed impossible that any Of the deadly
substance could have escaped the glass walls,
but microscopic examination showed a tiny
hole, through which it was barely possible to
pass hair due to an air bubble when the glass
was being made. The infection could only
have been by inhalation and the vial was
never nearer than 2 feet to the mans mouth
and nose. Further experiments were made
with the rate of dissipation leading to the
conclusion that viruence was greatest in still
air
The case is cited as an example of the
potency of preparations of some of the bac-
teral and virus agents which have been men,
toned as possible biological warfare weapons
of the future.
mo published data are available" the memo
Lie, 9o;o
bacterial warfare munitions, but even If the
efficiency were as low as a hundredth of
per cent the potency of this material still
would be extraordinarily high. Such prepara-
tions of psittacosis virus could easily be pro-
duced In liter amounts in single small labora-
tory with only such equipment and materials
as are common to virus laboratories through
out the world. The payload in psittacosis
bomb could be small, cheap and easily turned
out in quantity"
virulence Recognized.
Psittacosis has been recognized as one Of this
most virulent Of infectious diseases since 1t
first appeared, supposedly introduced by some
South American love birds, about 18 years ago.
At that time small epidemic broke out, result
ing in several deaths, among Public Health
Service workers in Washington who were in
vestigating the malady. The means Of tnfec-
ton could not be traced, since the material
under investigation had been handled with the
utmost precautions Persons in the building
who had never been even on the same floor
with the laboratory engaged in the investiga-
ton became sick.
The Camp Detrick experience leaves little
doubt that the psittacosis virus-one of the
largest of the mysterious organisms known as
fllterable viruses-spreads through the aiy and
is infective in extremely minute quantities.
The most virulent agent discovered by the
Chemical Warfare Service in its war expert
ments was crystalized form Of botulinus
toxin, gram of which would be sufficient to
kill 100000 men. This, however, would have
little significance in chemical warfare since it
would be necessary to give 1t as poison, not
as disease agent which would be self-per-
petuating. 81