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

[Viking2002]

Yup, got one, too. Is it just me, or is everyone else getting spammed by DUmmies and moonbats? I've gotten four in the last two days - three from hairy-legged bulldykes throwing tantrums over the San Fransissy marriage license issue, and now one from this pantywaist Third-Worlder........

[cmsgop]

You have a way with words,..LOL!

[RightWhale]

They are from a parallel universe. It's like some of those Euro political parties and their major issues: none of their stuff relates to life as we know it.

[PeteFromMontana]

Nope, just have three giant pictures in my comments

[Cindy]

I couldn't find anything in the German sites I visited or the military news sites I visited just now.

FYI.

[Dog Gone]

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

But in freepmail, WE get to do the Zot. It's a dumb tactic on their part, and I don't know what they hope to accomplish. I can delete faster than they can post.

[PeteFromMontana]

make that four..

[RightWhale]

Yes, they are trolls. But trolling for fish we never heard of. It's like the Doors' 'Strange Days.' Strange days have tracked us down.

[Dog]

They are not the sharpest knives in the draw....they have it bass ackwards....:-)

[Palladin]

That was Eschoir.

May he rest in peace.

[genefromjersey]

Granudo you should check the breaking news here:

http://kcnewsservice.blogspot.com

[SierraWasp]

I've gotten a barrage of these in my FRmail. I check the box but they don't go away! How do you ZOT'em???

[SierraWasp]

Never mind... I fingered it out!!!

[Cold Heat]

Pink eye bump!

[SierraWasp]

This past weekend has seen far too much of this seige of idiocy. I presume Jim and John are aware and taking countermeasures, right? (grimace)

[FairOpinion]

The expatica.com site, where the news item was seems to be a totally legitimate site.

But it's certainly very odd, that closing of 4 bases for 3 weeks, due to some virus is not reported anywhere.

I would say it's a hoax, if it were at some other website, but all the other articles at expatica.com are legit and it's not anywhere near April 1.

[sauropod]

*Yawn*

[Oorang]

I'll send this article to my brother who is in Germany at EUCOM. Problem is I won't get a reply from him for at least a few hours as it about 2am there now.

[FairOpinion]

Great, thanks! That way we will know what's really happening, a few hours or even a day is still better than not hearing at all.

Please FReepmail me, when you get the answer. I am very interested to find out what's going on.

Thanks.

[Oorang]

Please FReepmail me, when you get the answer

Will do; no problem.