DISEASE SURVEILLLANCE IN USMC FORCES DURING DESERT SHIELD ST

File: 102596_sep96_decls4_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 16

Subject: DISEASE SURVEILLLANCE IN USMC FORCES DURING DESERT SHIELD ST    

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303811

Folder Title: VARIOUS NAVAL MESSAGES FOLDER 2                                                                 

Document Number:          2

Folder SEQ  #:          5




           place to monitor or evaluate the sources.                 Many of these items
           (particularly lettuce) had been procured by the Saudis from Jordan, Egypt
           and other developing nations.           A high percentage of stool cultures
           processed at the Navy Forward Lab grew bacterial pathogens, including
           Shigella, enterotoxigenic E Coli. Fecally contaminated lettuce (fertilized
           with "night soil") was the likely source.

           2. Overworked chow halls - In an effort to provide 2 hot meals to all Marines
           in the field, chow halls operated at a much higher meal output than would
           normally be attempted.       Multiple sanitation problems occurred as a result.

                When the magnitude of the diarrhea problem became apparent, lettuce
           and other ground-grown      vegetables were rejected.      In addition, previously
           uncorrected chow hall deficiencies received more attention.                 Diarrhea
           rates fell dramatically in late September, and gradually reached very low
           levels (less than 0.5%      per week) over the next 8 weeks.              Significant
           person-to-person and        fly-borne transmission of enteric pathogens
           occurred for several weeks after the major outbreak. Lack of handwashing
           and poorly fly-proofed latrines probably prolonged the epidemic.

           Force-wide DERMATOLOGIC trends (enci 9)

                On average, 1% of unit strength per week reported to sick call with
           dermatologic complaints.       Fungal infections and heat rash predominated.
           Rates fell as the weather cooled.        Two cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis
           were diagnosed.

           Force-wide RESPIRATORY trends (encl 10)

                Respiratory disease attack rates were high at the beginning of the
           deployment, exceeding 2% per week. Anecdotal information indicates that
ops was much higher.                  Initially, extreme
           crowding of troops in warehouses and other structures contributed to the
           problem.    As troops deployed to less crowded field conditions, rates fell
           to approximately 0.5% per week through early December.                   A typical
           winter-time epidemic occurred during the cooler months, fueled by newly
           arriving Marines carrying winter URI's from the US.           Cooler weather also
           led to increased indoor crowding in tents.         At the onset of the air war,
           sick call attendance for URI decreased markedly, though disease
           prevalence probably remained high.

           Non-combat INJURY, EYE PROBLEMS, PSYCHIATRIC VISITS, AND
           UNEXPLAINED FEVER (enci 11)

                Non-combat injury and other orthopedic problems resulted in sick call

Document 16 f:/Week-37/BX303811/VARIOUS NAVAL MESSAGES FOLDER 2/disease surveilllance in usmc forces during dese:1018961450025
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-37
Box ID = BX303811
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = VARIOUS NAVAL MESSAGES FOLDER 2
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = DISEASE SURVEILLLANCE IN USMC FORCES DURING DESE
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 18-OCT-1996