APPENDIX B
Directive on MalariaControl
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ARMYFORCES IN THE FAR EAST
FEMC: 710
A.P.O. 501
18 APRIL 1943
SUBJECT: Sanitary and PreventionMeasures for the Control of Malaria
TO: CommandingGeneral, Sixth Army, APO 442.
Commanding General, Fifth Air Force, APO 925.
Commanding General, U.S.A. S.O.S., APO 501.
1. The followinganti-malaria measures are published for the information and guidance ofall United States Army troops now serving in or destined for malariousareas:
a. Prior to movement of a command into a malarious area thefollowing anti-malaria measures will be made effective:
(1) All available information bearing on health in the area will be collectedand evaluated in order to determine the probable effect of these factorson the sickness rate of the troops. Special note will be made of the prevalenceof malaria and other insect and water-borne diseases.
(2) Where the military situation permits, especially trained medical personnelwill be dispatched in advance of the troops to make a health survey ofthe area. Results of this survey will form a basis for estimating the relativehealth hazards of different locations under consideration for occupationor proposed tactical operations.
(3) There will he attached to the staff of the commander, a malariologistor a medical officer especially qualified in tropical diseases, to advisethe commander concerning the relative malaria hazards of various proposedcamp and bivouac sites, and to inspect and supervise the anti-malaria workand discipline throughout the command.
(4) When the nature of the tactical operation permits, the organizationwill have attached to it malaria survey and control units.
(5) All commanding officers will take measures to form anti-malaria detailsin each company, squadron or smaller unit and will provide for the trainingof these details in anti-malaria work. Details will be made up on the basisof one (1) N.C.O. and two (2) enlisted men per infantry company, and asuitable proportionate number for each smaller unit or detachment. Theroutine anti-malaria work in each unit area will be done by these details,augmented, if necessary, by additional personnel. The unit commander willbe responsible for the anti-malaria work as advised by the attached medicalofficer.
(6) All military personnel will he thoroughly trained prior to departurein carrying out the anti-malaria measures.
(7) Each individual will have in his possession the following items ofanti-malaria supplies and equipment:
Bar, mosquito, or hammock, jungle complete
Headnet, mosquito
Gloves, Mosquito
Repellent, mosquito--2 oz. bottle
Atabrine, tablets, 0.1 gm. (1 1/2 grams) --30
(8) Each organization will be issued the following one months maintenancestocks:
Bars, mosquito.......................................................................25per 100 men
Headnets, mosquito................................................................10per 100 men
Gloves, mosquito....................................................................10prs per 100 men
Repellent mosquito................................................................4002-oz. bottles per 100 men
Atabrine, tablets.....................................................................0.1gm. - (1 1/2 grams) 3,000 tablets per 100 men for suppressive treatment
Equipment:
Sprayer, hand, insecticide 10 per each 100 men
Sprayer, knapsack type 1 per each 200 or less men
Malariol (or Diesel Oil No.2) 1 drum 50 gallon U.S. per sprayer, knapsack
Insecticide, for use in hand sprayers 5 gallons U.S. per 100 men
These unit anti-malariasupplies will be conspicuously marked and must be carried in a readilyaccessible place on the ship, to be available immediately upon arrival.
(9) Suppressive Treatment (see b.(3)).
b. Anti-MalariaMeasures for Military Personnel in Malarious Areas.
(1) Unit commanders will be held responsible for the enforcement of anti-malariameasures in their command. They will direct the attached medical officersto, give regular and frequent instructions to the personnel of the commandon malaria control measures as well as other phases of hygiene and sanitation.The dates, number of hours, and subjects covered in all instructions willbe reported in the monthly sanitary reports.
(2) In these units in which anti-malaria details have not been organized,steps will he taken promptly to designate and train such details in accordancewith the provisions of paragraph a. (5).
(3) Suppressive treatment will be taken commencing one week prior to arrivalin a malarious area and will continue under careful supervision while inthe area and for four weeks after return to a non-malarious area. Treatmentin highly malarious areas will consist of one tablet of atabrine0.1 gm. once daily, six days a week, taken at mealtime with a drink ofwater. For troops stationed in areas specifically designated by the ChiefMalariologist as mildly malarious, the suppressive dose of atabrinewill be one tablet 0.1 gm. (1½ grains) twice daily on two days aweek, allowing a two or three day interval between days of medication.Suppressive treatment will be supervised by a commissioned officer to insurethat each soldier actually swallows the medication.
(4) The selection of camp and bivouac sites will be made so as toavoid if possible:
(a.) Proximity to native villages or camps.
(b.) Areas known to have a heavy population of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
(5) Individual protective measures will be carried out as follows:
a.) The wearing of shorts, and shirts without sleeves is prohibited. Workdetails may during daylight hours work without shirts when so authorizedby the officer in charge of the detail. All troops will wear their shirtsleeves rolled down from sunset to sunrise. Leggings will be worn to protectankles and legs from mosquito bites and from injuries leading to tropicalsores.
b.) All personnel will be required to sleep under mosquito nets. Unit commandersor their representatives will instruct the troops in the proper use ofsleeping nets; and by frequent inspections at night will see that the netsare efficiently used.
c.) Mosquito headnets and gloves will be worn while on guard duty or othernight work whenever this is possible. Officers and men who, because oftheir work are unable to wear gloves and headnets, will cover all exposedskin surfaces with repellent. The repellent must be re-applied every fewhours to be effective.
(6) Anti-mosquito measures as follows, will be initiated upon arrival inmalarious area
(a) Hand killing of engorged mosquitoes will be done daily in each tentand hut within the area.
(b) Each tent, hut, or sleeping place will be sprayed daily withinsecticide to kill the infected mosquitoes.
(c) Breeding places for mosquito larvae within half a mile radius of thecamp site will be drained, filled or oiled by the unit anti-malaria detail.Especial attention will be directed to standing water in man-made excavations,wheel ruts, coconut shells, cans, and other containers. It is the responsibilityof the commanding officer to see that the program for the destruction ofbreeding places is efficiently carried out.
2. Existing instructionsissued by the U.S. Army commands will be revised to conform in detail tothe above.
By command of General MACARTHUR.
s/ L. S. OSTRANDER
t/ L. S. OSTRANDER
Adjutant General.
Copies furnished to:
Army, Corps,Divisions
Separate Brigades
Air Force Commandsand Groups
Advanced Baseand Base Sections
