APPENDIX A
Standard Operating Procedure for Control of Malaria and Other Insect-Borne Diseases During aCombat Operation1
This Standard OperatingProcedure is merely a sample plan adapted to and used during one operation.All such plans should be flexible. One division malaria control group had4 general plans calling for various degrees of decentralization, the exactplan and details used to he determined by the particular situation.
1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The target for theoperation is an area where a flea, louse, and parasite infested native populationof several hundred persons per square mile is a seed-bed of disease. Fly-borneand water-borne intestinal diseases are likely to be the most immediate diseasehazards. Native food is contaminated by the use of human feces for fertilizerand should not be eaten. Dengue fever, malaria and mite-borne typhus arepotential dangers. Schistosomiasis (blood fluke disease) adds to the riskof drinking or bathing in untreated water.
2. MOUNTING PHASE
a. All personnel will again be trained in individual measures to protect against mosquito andmite bites. Water and food discipline will be emphasized. Fly control measureswill be reviewed, particularly the use of DDT solutions and of sodium arsenitesolutions to spray corpses. Officers will review the importance of campsiteselection to avoid proximity to infected natives and to breeding places ofdisease carrying insects.
b. Bednets of allpersonnel will be sprayed with a five (5) percent solution of DDT in kerosene.
c. Each man will be provided with 2 uniforms and 1 blanket impregnated with dimethyl phthalate as outlined in TB Med 121, dated December 1944. Measures in b and c will becarried out in as short a time before embarkation as possible.
d. Immunization recordswill be checked and the necessary booster doses will be given.
e. Suppressive atabrinewill be given to all personnel as outlined in TB Med 65, dated 3 July 1944,beginning 3 weeks before D-day.
f. Each individual will be provided with:
Bar, mosquito or hammock, jungle, complete..................................1
Repellent insect, 2 oz. bottle............................................................2
Atabrine tablets, 0.1 Gm...............................................................30
Insecticide, powder, louse, 2 oz. can...............................................1
1 Variations of this SOP were published three times in the South Pacific Area Malaria TrainingManual No. 2. revised October 1944; in Preventive Medicine Manual No. 2,HUSAFPOA March 1945; and in the Journal of Military Medicine in the Pacific,September 1945--of which the last and simplest is reproduced
g. Each organization will be issued 30 days supply of the following items which will be conspicuously marked and carried with the organization so as to be readily available:
Insecticide, powder, louse, 2 oz. can.................................................100 per 100 men
Repellent, 2 oz. bottles......................................................................800 per 100 men
Sprayer, liquid, insecticide, continuous spray, 2 quart.............................1 per 100 men
Sprayer, oil knapsack type....................................................................1 per 100 men
Diesel oil, No. 2, 55 gallon drum with 5% DDT added...........................1 per sprayer oil knapsack type
Atabrine tablets, 0.1 Gm..................................................................4000 per 100 men
Insecticide, freon-aerosol, 1 lb. dispenser.............................................30 per 100 men
3. COMBAT PHASE
a. The malariologist, with the entomologist and parasitologist will provide the surgeon with aninsect survey and an estimate of the malaria and insect-borne disease hazardas rapidly as feasible after D-day, with subsequent estimates as determinedby current conditions and needs.
b. Fly control willbe done by hand spraying of dead bodies, with 5 per cent DDT solution orwith 1 per cent sodium arsonite solution, and by proper care of human wasteand garbage.
c. Anti-mosquito measures will be carried out by temporary spray teams as outlined in par. 4. The application of DDT residual effect solution to native dwellings willbe emphasized.
d. Airplane spraying of DDT will be available about D plus 10. Requests for airplane spraying willbe forwarded to the surgeon and will describe the area to he sprayed withan accompanying contour map or grid map. The nature of the insect problemwith exact entomological data should be given and an estimate of the needfor repeat spraying.
4. TEMPORARY SPRAY TEAMS FOR EACH REGIMENT
a. Each regimental commander will immediately form a temporary spray team comprising 20 men, one man drawn from the insect and rodent control detail of each company. Thesespray teams will be assisted by 2 technicians, who will be temporarily attachedfrom the Malaria Survey and Control Detachment assigned to Army, Corps orDivision. Each regimental spray team will be quartered with its regimentalcompany for the combat period. The work of these spray teams will be supervisedby the Divisional Medical Inspector and by personnel from Malaria and Insect-BorneDisease Control Groups.
b. Duties of These Spray Teams:
In amphibious operationsthese spray teams will go ashore with the headquarters to which they areattached and begin fly and mosquito control work. Each team will carry outthe following measures in the rear of combat lines.
(1) Fly Control. Dead bodies will he sprayed with 5 percent DDT solution or1 percent sodium arsenite solution. Straddle trenches and pit latrines willbe sprayed with 5 per cent DDT at the rate of 1 pint per-hole twice a week.
(2) Spraying of dwellings and other temporary mosquito control measures inareas of headquarters, medical- facilities, supply stations and along communicationlines.
c. Equipment of TheseSpray Teams.
Every man will heequipped with a sprayer for DDT solution. Technicians from Division malariaand insect control groups will carry a dipper for sampling larva populationsand preliminary spot maps. Each spray team will carry one weeks supply ofDDT solution prepared in advance and 3 weeks supply of DDT powder, dissolving.Each spray team should be equipped with a power sprayer.
d. The Temporary Spray Teams are formed for the period of active operation only. As soon asconditions become stabilized and when designed by the division surgeon, thispersonnel will return to routine control measures of the company insect androdent control details.
e. No duties that interfere with their malaria and insect control functions will be assigned to the above personnel.
Individual protective measures against mosquito-borne diseases, mite-borne typhus, and schistosomiasis will he carried out by all division personnel as directed.
1Variationsof this SOP were published three times--in the South Pacific Area MalariaTraining Manual No. 2, revised October 1944; in Preventive Medicine ManualNo. 2, HUSAFPOA, March 1945; and in the Journal of Military Medicine in thePacific, September 1945--of which the last and simplest is reproduced.
