Commentary on Nie Rongzhen’s Report [1] Concerning the Enemy’s Large-Scale Airdrop of Insects Carrying Pathogens on the Korean Front (February 19, 1952) Comrade Premier Zhou should take note of this matter [2] and see to its handling. Mao Zedong February 19 Based on the manuscript copy. Notes [1] Nie Rongzhen was at the time acting Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. [2] Refers to the incident described in Nie Rongzhen’s report of February 18, 1952, addressed to the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, concerning the enemy’s large-scale airdropping of flies, fleas, spiders, and other insects in the Korean front area. The report stated that, in addition to dispatching experts to the scene to investigate, samples of the insects had been sent back to Beijing for culture and laboratory analysis to determine what pathogens they carried. According to expert estimates, cholera, typhoid fever, plague, and relapsing fever were the most likely candidates; if these findings were confirmed by laboratory tests, vigorous and urgent measures for epidemic prevention and control would be required.