TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemic infectious gastrointestinal illness aboard U.S. Navy ships deployed to the Middle East during peacetime operations - 2000-2001
AU - Riddle, Mark S.
AU - Smoak, Bonnie L.
AU - Thornton, Scott A.
AU - Bresee, Joseph S.
AU - Faix, Dennis J.
AU - Putnam, Shannon D.
PY - 2006/2/25
Y1 - 2006/2/25
N2 - Background: Infectious gastrointestinal illness (IGI) outbreaks have been reported in U.S. Navy ships and could potentially have an adverse mission impact. Studies to date have been anecdotal. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of weekly reported disease and non-battle injury health data collected in 2000-2001 from 44 U.S. Navy ships while sailing in the 5th Fleet (Persian Gulf and nearby seas). Results: During this period, II possible IGI outbreaks were identified. Overall, we found 3.3 outbreaks per 100 ship-weeks, a mean outbreak duration of 4.4 weeks, and a mean cumulative ship population attack rate of 3.6%. Morbidity, represented by days lost due to personnel being placed on sick-in-quarters status, was higher during outbreak weeks compared to non-outbreak weeks (p = 0.002). No clear seasonal distribution was identified. Conclusion: Explosive outbreaks due to viruses and bacteria with the potential of incapacitating large proportions of the crew raise serious concerns of mission impact and military readiness.
AB - Background: Infectious gastrointestinal illness (IGI) outbreaks have been reported in U.S. Navy ships and could potentially have an adverse mission impact. Studies to date have been anecdotal. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of weekly reported disease and non-battle injury health data collected in 2000-2001 from 44 U.S. Navy ships while sailing in the 5th Fleet (Persian Gulf and nearby seas). Results: During this period, II possible IGI outbreaks were identified. Overall, we found 3.3 outbreaks per 100 ship-weeks, a mean outbreak duration of 4.4 weeks, and a mean cumulative ship population attack rate of 3.6%. Morbidity, represented by days lost due to personnel being placed on sick-in-quarters status, was higher during outbreak weeks compared to non-outbreak weeks (p = 0.002). No clear seasonal distribution was identified. Conclusion: Explosive outbreaks due to viruses and bacteria with the potential of incapacitating large proportions of the crew raise serious concerns of mission impact and military readiness.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646269061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1471-230X-6-9
DO - 10.1186/1471-230X-6-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 16504135
AN - SCOPUS:33646269061
SN - 1471-230X
VL - 6
JO - BMC Gastroenterology
JF - BMC Gastroenterology
M1 - 9
ER -