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

[cmsgop]

This guy made me think he was German Leftest.

[lurker214]

Well at least the virus doesnt seem to be the "marburg" virus despite the dateline of the article. That would be very bad....

[prairiebreeze]

They come out of piles of dog vomit too. I forgot about that source.

Prairie

[MEG33]

Just got it and thought it strange.My reply(without clicking the link).When you own the forum,you can run it like you wish.

[RightWhale]

What is up with the FReepmail lately? Seems like very strange stuff. Pointless, illogical, almost like spam.

[longtermmemmory]

automated?

[onyx]

Do NOT ever open the links. Hell I don't even read their damn mail.

[onyx]

Don't ever open the link.

[MEG33]

Hope the infection is brought under control soon.

[MEG33]

It is spam.

[RightWhale]

< tinfoil >

Don't know, but they have links. Do not click on strange links. Don't know what virus you might pick up. At the least they will zero in on your coordinates.

< /tinfoil >

[billorites]

It has been quite some time since we've had an active disruptor hereabouts.

Who was the guy a couple years ago who wouldn't go away?

[MEG33]

It's not tinfoil thinking to never click a link in mail from an unknown.

[STFrancis]

German Ping..

Can anyone ping Michael8dus?...

Thanks...

[cmsgop]

Yes very SPAMY, and the amount of disruptor's is amazing, I've never seen anything like it.

[Dog]

They have found out they can't survive in the open here so they are attacking in freepmail.

[MEG33]

I wasn't here.I know one of them now is probably German.

[PeteFromMontana]

Anyway to get rid of these pictures? I have three of them now...I assume this guy is a spammer

[MEG33]

OOps..you clicked on the link??

[Jim Robinson]

trolls