IDF holds simulation of biological warfare attack
Joint Medical Corps, Health Ministry, hospital teams hold mass casualty drill aimed at raising awareness to biological warfare. 'Contaminated' patients evacuated to isolated hospital wards
The Israel Defense Forces' Medical Corps held a drill Wednesday to simulate a mass casualty biological weapons' attack in Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
As part of the drill, which involved the IDF, Health Ministry, infirmaries and hospitals, soldiers and citizens were asked to report mock symptoms of fever, rashes and lesions in the mouth cavity.
Medical teams from several infirmaries treated casualties and collected lab samples that later on confirmed that the patients contracted the smallpox virus.
"There is a low awareness to the framework of biological warfare and this drill is meant to raise awareness," said Chief Medical Officer Brigadier-General Dr. Nachman Esh. "We are simulating a number of scenarios. The current drill is part of a perennial exercise, although we don't have a concrete threat at the moment," he added.
The medical teams, who were equipped with protective gear and masks, classified certain areas as "sterile zones".
Sde Dov Airbase imposed a curfew on departures, in order to prevent "infected" and healthy soldiers from traveling in and out of the base.
Casualties put in isolation
This year for the first time casualties were evacuated to isolated rooms in Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. "We transferred the hopital patients to other hospital wards along with careful medical supervision," said Sheba's Deputy Director Arnon Afek. "They were all very cooperative. Patients on respirators were kept in the ward because of the health risk involved in moving them."
Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Wolfson Medical Center in Holon also participated in the drill.
The mock casualties were brought into the empty wards by medical staff equipped with white protective suits and masks.
Following conclusions drawn from last years' drill, police officers also participated in the drill and questioned patients in order to determine whether there was suspicion of a biological terror attack.
"The biggest challenge is for the community infirmaries that had to detect the unusual case and teach its medical teams how to treat such incidents," said Esh.
Getting ready for Haiti
While holding the drill, Medical Corps personal had to react to a real scenario – they were asked to prepare a rescue team that would depart to Haiti within hours to help with the rescue effort following the massive earthquake that shook the country Wednesday morning.
"We are sending a relatively small team of 30-40 members serving compulsory and reserve duty. You can call it an intensive care unit with enhanced abilities – but not quite a field hospital," said Brigadier-General Esh.
The Chief Medical officer explained that the team received an approval from the Chief of Staff and was now waiting for additional permits. "We are accustomed to conducting more than one missions at a time," he said.
