MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE ABSTRACTS OF UNEVALUATED INFORMATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01162415
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: October 14, 2020
• Case Number: F-2020-00284
• Publication Date: October 17, 1951

Approved for Release: 2020/10/13 CO1162415
MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE ABSTRACTS
OF
UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
CIA/SI 25.26-51
17 October 1951
WARNING: This documPnt contains information affect-
ing the national defense of the United States, within
the meaning of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the
U, S, Code, as amended. Its transmission or revela-
tion of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized
person is prohibited by law,
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Increased Red Crescent and Red Cross Activity in Soviet Union.
The combined society membership of the
Soviet Red Cross and Soviet Red Crescent is
given as 15 million. Activities of this
Union, it is stated, are aimed at protecting
the health of the broad masses of the people.
The executive Committee of these societies
has begun to publish a magazine called, "The
Soviet Red Cross." The leading article of the first issue em-
phasizes the importance of The Soviet Red Cross in the struggle
for world-wide peace.
ANALYST'S CONNENT: Part of five-Tear plan
(1946-1950), Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in-
cluded development of measures for extensive public aid to
population suffering from effects of war, and strengthening of
first aid program of Soviet Union. First aid training classes
received considerable attention in Soviet press during January
and February 1951, after almost complete silence about this
activity for several years. Reports from various "Republic"
societies indicated work may have been reoriented toward civil
defense since outbreak of war in Korea. Membership has gone
from about 8 million in 1941, 14 million in 1946, to 15.5
million (or 7.5% of population) in 1948. In April 1951 member-
ship drive appeared to be underway but apparently did not exceed
previously stated amounts, as the latest clAims are 15 million
membership. These observations would seem to indicate possi-
bility of strengthening and buildup of this organization for
civilian defense purposes as well as for known program of
increase of health services in the Soviet Union,
2, Vulnerability of Germany and Yugoslavia to Foot and Mouth
Disease.
the incidence of Foot and Mouth Disease has
reached serious proportions.
difficulty in combating the disease,
has been the fact that
the type of virus common to this. area has changed and that the
available stocks of vaccine serum were lamely ineffective. A
new serum has. been prepared and vaccina-
tions are expected to begin within a few days.
SECRET1
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Oft
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
2, Vulnerability of German and Yugoslavia to Foot and Mouth
Disease (ContqL
The first cases of foot and mouth disease
appeared on the Greek border south of Bitolj
in May 1951. The virus was classified as
Vallee A which is the same as was present
during April in the Florina area of Greece,
About a month later cases appeared in the
southern Bulgarian border and were classified
as Vallee type O. The disease is spreading rapidly and has become
an epizootic of such proportions that all possible efforts of
control are justified. Vaccine imported from Denmark and Switzer-
land have not given satisfactory immunity although it was speci-
fically for the Vallee A-0 types of virus as classified in Eng-
land, Denmark and Switzerland. virus of another type (W(1)
is also present here. The laboratory now under construction in (b)(3)
Bitolj should be in operation in two weeks. The vaccine pro-
duced here, from the local virus, should produce a stronger and
more specific immunity than imported vaccines. This laboratory
is a temporary installation and although all possible sanitary
precautions have been taken under existing conditions, there
are many possibilities for escape of virus from this laboratory.
ANALYST1S COMMENT It is
interesting to note that the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease
in Germany and Yugoslavia have assumed epizootic proportions
chiefly because of the appearance of a type of virus immunolo-
gically different from the available vaccines. The lack of
facilities in Germany and Yugoslavia to immediately prepare
vaccines from the prevalent type of virus causing an outbreak of
foot and mouth disease, and their dependence upon the use of
standard type vaccines from Denmark and Switzerland, demonstrate
the vulnerability of these countries to epizootics caused by
atypical types or strains of viruses,
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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Approved for Release: 2020/10/13 CO1162415