Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-03
Army Doctors Studying
Unidentified Flu Virus
New Outbreaks on Posts
Spur Search for Causes
By Thomos R. Henry

py tUOWOS N. I1SUIy GGFs .
There is a still unidentified grippe"
virus.
This is the conclusion of Army doc
tors studying outbreaks Of respiratory
disease. often with mild lung involve
ment, at various posts.
The illness is like mild influenza, but
no flu virus can be found. It was first
observed in military camps during the
war and was labeled merely as ARD.
or acute respiratory disease. It also
has been reported as widespread among
the civilian population.
One Of the latest outbreaks was at
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo-. which was
studied by DR.. Maurice r. Hillman of
much more serious than the wartime
malady The latter always was mild
and of short duration. Among the Fort
Wood soldiers the sickness was mod
erately severe and required an average
of two weeks in the post hospital. There
were no fatalities. Attack rates con-
sistently were from two to five times
higher among the men receiving train
ing than among the permanent per-
sonnet at the post.
Lungs Not Involved.
In many of the cases there was no
lung involvement, leading to the posi-
bility that two distinct disease entities
might be concerned. The Army doctors,
however, concluded that lung symptoms
constituted only one complication OF
ARD. and whether it appeared or not
depended on the natural resistance of
the victim. When it appeared, the
illness was much more serious and re-
quired hospital treatment
There is a high probability that ARD
is virus ailment, but as yet no virus
has been demonstrated. If this is the
case, the agent apparently is quite diff
ferent from the family of flu viruses
which causes a very similar disease.
ARD probably would be diagnosed as
influenza by most physicians.
While industrial atomic energy, even
with the most optimistic estimates. still
is years away, quite significant appli-
cations in specialized fields may come
much sooner +
At Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology series of experiments has been
started on the sterilization of canned
foods by exposure to the irradiations
of iSotopes which now are a waste
product of atomic piles.
These will be used. says DR.. Bernard
E. Proctor, head of MIT's Department
OF Food Technology, under conditions
which for the first time approximate
those needed in commercial canning
processes. Study along these lines has
been in progress for the past three
years, using radioactive cobalt, the So
called artificial radium." The new radi-S
alton source produces high energy.
X-rays. similar to those from the CO.
bait which is not available in sufficient
quantities to handle the output of any
commercial food producer Z
Lower Energy Level.
Radiation from the new source has
somewhat lower energy level and a
shorter life than that from cobalt. butt
it is produced in abundance and has mol
other use. It is by-product of any re-
actor operation which now is a waste
and a nuisance
Cans Of food are introduced into thief
active region Of the radiation and pre-
sumably are freed from any bacterial
contamination.
Much experimentation still is neces@
sary. the NIT workers say. before it cat
be demonstrated whether or not thu
system will be practical for industry.
There are many bugs" still to be elm
mated.
But If radiation sterilization on an
industrial scale ever is to prove practi-
cal. they say. it will be along the lines
now being studied.