Virus closes US army bases in Germany

Exatica.com ^ | Feb. 20, 2004 | DPA

[FairOpinion]

MARBURG - A mysterious viral infection has forced military authorities in Germany to close four bases, ordering nearly 4,000 personnel and their dependents to stay home, authorities said Friday.

The bases Schwalmstadt, Schwarzenborn, Stadtallendorf and Neustadt will be closed for three weeks while the premises are disinfected.

"This is the worst single such infectious situation we've ever had," a Defence Ministry spokesman said Friday.

The viral epidemic began in Schwalmstadt in the central German state of Hesse, when 150 of the 800 personnel stationed there complained of inflamed and itching eyes.

The Bundeswehr closed that base last week. Just four days later, the same symptoms cropped up at nearby Neustadt, where all 800 service personnel were told to go home until further notice.

With some 14,000 troops stationed in Hesse, German military authorities became alarmed as two more bases were ordered closed.

"Something is being transmitted between these bases - food, laundry, books - something that people touch with their hands and then inadvertently transfer to their eyes," a spokesman said.

At the one base in the area that is still open, in Frankenberg, the base commander is confident the epidemic is waning.

"We have had just a dozen reported cases of eye infection out of a base population of 1,200," said Colonel Peter Richard, Frankenberg base commander. "We have launched hygiene drills and cleaning campaigns aimed at ensuring that this does not spread any further."

Bundeswehr medical officials note that infectious diseases are common at military bases due to the close confines of 1,000 or more men and women living and working together.

"This infection, however, is a definitely more stubborn than any we have seen in recent years," one military doctor told Deutsche Presse-Agentur

DPA Subject: German news

[FairOpinion]

Just saw this on Drudge. The article is dated Feb. 20. I haven't seen anything about this, except in this article.

[lucyblue]

bump!

[Mears]

I have no medical background but if it's been identified as a virus,why can't they tell us more about it?

A little more info would help me.

[FairOpinion]

It's very odd, that there are no other articles on this whatsoever. Yet, it must be a big thing, they don't just shut down 4 bases for 3 weeks for nothing.

The first question these days is whether it could be terrorism.

Why bases only?

[Criminal Number 18F]

Those are GERMAN Army (Bundeswehr) bases, NOT US Army bases.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Mears]

I can understand the bases, because the flu epidemic of 1918 started in army bases,but I haven't read anything about these cases in Germany other than what you just posted.

Thanks.

[FairOpinion]

Good point. But the title of the article said US bases.

It's just odd that this appeared there 3 days ago, and no other news about it anywhere.

[FairOpinion]

Paging anyone in Germany, reading the German press, -- is there any more info about this story?

[Spruce]

This is chilling.

[Poohbah]

Got ZOT!?

[nuconvert]

Troll time again

[onyx]

Another troll/

FR mail and all.

[Neets]

Dang..where are they coming from?

[FairOpinion]

I hope it's nothing really serious.

Many nasty diseases have an incubation period of days to weeks, with initial symptoms being relatively mild.

As I said, they don't close down 4 bases completely for some minor bug.

[onyx]

Same idiot --- way too much time on its hands.

[prairiebreeze]

Sewers, cesspools, stinking bogs. You know, where they live.

Prairie

[Neets]

I'm glad I don't spend much time here on the "other" side...

[cmsgop]

I got FR-Mail too...

[prairiebreeze]

Yes, and a small mind that is so easily amused by small things. Small person.

Prairie