19 
DISCUSSION 
1. In considering the 423 infections at Fort Detrick, in comparison 
to those reported elsewhere, it should be recognized that the occupational 
health program was unusually thorough in its active search for occupationally- 
acquired infections. The maintenance of large biological safety and medical 
departments also was characteristic of the Army biological operations at 
Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas. Two unusual 
formally announced policies contributed to maximizing detection of occupational 
infection. The first was a policy that "every illness suffered by an 
occupationally exposed employee will be considered occupational until the 
medical service of Fort Detrick determines otherwise." The second was that 
"employees hospitalized by Fort Detrick physicians for illness suspected or 
known to have been caused by a BW agent under study will be carried on a 
'duty' status without charge to annual leave or to sick leave." (This was 
justified by considering the patient as being a contributor to medical 
knowledge of a potential BW agent.) Of course, all such medical care was 
free of charge to the employee. 
2. There is some difficulty in comparing the efficacy of the Detrick 
primary and secondary barriers with the probable efficacy of the proposed 
P3 and P4 barriers because the definitions of P3 and P4 quoted herein are 
preliminary and subject to revision. At present, neither P3 nor P4 requires 
use of "Class III" gastight cabinet systems, although the wording of P4 does 
not exclude Class III. 
[390] 
