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{
    "localId": "486501616",
    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Communist Charges of United States Use of Biological Warfare, Special Estimate 24",
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    "id": "486501616",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Communist Charges of United States Use of Biological Warfare, Special Estimate 24",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486501616",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Intelligence Files"
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 25,
            "logicalDate": "1952-03-25",
            "month": 3,
            "year": 1952
        }
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{
    "seq": 7,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
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    "ocrText": "TOE\nSECRET\n4\nAPPENDIX A\nDISEASE IN THE KOREAN AREA\nrate was reported to be 50 percent. In April,\n1951, the NKF and CCF disease victims were\n1. Available intelligence does not indicate the\nreported to equal battle casualties.\npresent incidence of typhus, cholera, small-\npox, typhoid, and other diseases in North Ko-\n4. In November, 1951, GHQ, FECOM, concluded\nrea. Because of the poor diagnostic compe-\nthat \"lack of an effective lousicide, together\ntence of the Chinese Communist and North\nwith the apparent neglect of universal typhus\nKorean medical services, it is doubtful whether\nimmunizations and the high louse infestation\nfactual information on the incidence of each\nof enemy troops will inevitably result in many\ndisease will ever be available. Consequently,\ncases of typhus.\" In March, 1952, one covert\ntrue current incidence of any given disease in\nreport stated that 30 percent of the 8th Corps,\nthe North Korean (and China/Manchuria)\nNKA, were bedridden with typhoid fever or\narea is likewise not known by the Commu-\ntyphus, with about 60 percent mortality.\nnists. However, the area contains the natu-\n5. There have been several recent reports of\nral conditions causing many diseases to be\nan unusual disease in both the NKF and the\nendemic and epidemic.\nCCF. The disease is characterized by an acute\n2. Diseases historically follow the movement\nonset with headache, chills, and fever; nose-\nof armies, and there is every reason to believe\nbleed, vomiting, and abdominal pains were\nthis happened in the case of the Chinese mili-\nreported in some instances. While there was\ntary movements into North Korea. Moreover,\nno mention of conjunctival hemorrhage (or\nhygiene and sanitary conditions in the NKF\n\"red eye\") in connection with these reports, a\nand CCF have become progressively more pro-\nlarge percentage of PW's were found to be suf-\npitious for disease outbreaks as the Korean\nfering from some form of conjunctivitis at the\nconflict has continued. Exhausting forced\ntime of capture. No estimate of incidence of\nmarches and inadequate food and shelter have\nthe malady in enemy troops can be obtained.\nlowered the resistance of the troops. Dirty\n6. There was one covert report of a smallpox-\nmess-gear has been commonplace. Lack of\nlike disease epidemic in North Korea during\nmedical equipment and non-utilization of\nNovember-December 1951; no confirming in-\nsanitation personnel, even in rear areas, re-\ntelligence is available.\nflect negligent preventive-medical practices.\nThe absence of an effective lousicide is an-\n7. CCF Immunization. There are indications\nother factor contributing to the generally\nof extensive inoculation of CCF troops, al-\nprimitive sanitary condition in the field.\nthough the degree of protection received is\n(DDT is ineffective against certain types of\nnot known due to doubtful efficacy of im-\nKorean and Manchurian lice.)\nmunization. Prior to CCF intervention in\n3. During 1951 cholera, smallpox, and typhus\n1950, vaccines were plentiful in China and\nManchuria, and were also available for revac-\nwere reported to be widespread among North\nKorean and Chinese Communist troops. Ty-\ncination of CCF troops in Korea during the\nphus fever had a high incidence among enemy\nspring of 1951 (except for tetanus toxoid).\nVaccines were made in China and Manchuria\ntroops during the spring, but the rate fell\nsharply early in July. It was reported that in\nat any of a number of centers such as the\nPeking Central Epidemic Prevention Bureau\nsome areas of North Korea 50 percent of all\ncivilian communities contracted the disease,\nand the Dairen Municipal Sanitation Center.\nwith a resulting 30 percent mortality. In\nIntelligence does not indicate use of Soviet or\nMarch, 1951, there were reports that typhus,\nUS made vaccines by the CCF.\ntyphoid, and smallpox had affected a large\na. Smallpox: Vaccination universal in 1950.\nproportion of civilians and North Korean\nIn 1951 about 90 percent coverage of military\ntroops in the Ch'unch'on area; the mortality\nforces, 10 percent being omitted because of\nTOP\nSECRET\nNARA\nCONFIDENTIAL"
}