US Army Stumped by Pneumonia Among Mideast Troops

Reuters ^ | 09-11-03

[Brian S]

Thu September 11, 2003 06:34 PM ET By Paul Simao

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The U.S. Army said on Thursday it did not know what had caused an outbreak of a severe type of pneumonia that killed two soldiers serving in Iraq and caused 17 on duty in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to be hospitalized.

The illnesses, which were reported in a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, occurred between March and August in a group of full-time active duty personnel and reservists deployed in Iraq, Kuwait, Djibouti, Qatar and Uzbekistan.

The Army has ruled out the SARS coronavirus and a number of other pathogens as causes of the cluster of severe acute pneumonitis. It also does not believe that biochemical agents played a role in making the 18 men and one woman sick.

"We don't know the cause, but we're aggressively pursuing that through laboratory tests," said Col. Bruno Petrucelli, a doctor and epidemiologist in the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine in Maryland.

"Clinically there is just no fit here with the bioagents," Petrucelli added.

He noted it was possible smoking contributed to the illnesses in the soldiers. Fifteen of the 19 patients, who were healthy before developing pneumonia, smoked cigarettes or cigars.

All of the patients suffered shortness of breath and required the assistance of mechanical ventilators after the onset of illness. The majority also had markedly higher numbers of a certain type of white blood cell known as an eosinophil.

Eosinophils are produced in the bone marrow and normally found in the bloodstream and the gut lining. They contain proteins that help the body fight infection from parasites, but they can damage the body when certain diseases are present.

The 17 surviving soldiers have been placed on sick leave or returned to duty.

The Army is urging health care providers in the United States to watch for unexplained cases of acute respiratory failure in troops returning from duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and nearby countries.

[latrans]

Only cigarettes and cigars? Hmmmm.

[boxerblues]

Another report out the other day said they were "new" to smoking.

[Milligan]

During the 1930's Dust Bowl, people were dying from dust pneumonia.
Didn't the military stopped selling smokes. Guys in tanks were buying smokes from the locals...and their smokes are not American smokes. Very strong stuff.

[mystery-ak]

You can actually buy US cigs from Iraqis....I just sent Mike 5 cartons because the PX can't keep them in stock and they have been ordered not to buy them from the Iraqis...they could be poison....?

[cyborg]

I hope this isn't gulf war syndrome redux

[Brian S]

Is today your hubby's birthday? Have you started a thread to celebrate?

Happy birthday to your man! I'm sure he is very proud of you and will even be more so when he gets to read your posts on FR. Salute!

Take care and God Bless...

[Eastbound]

"All of the patients suffered shortness of breath and required the assistance of mechanical ventilators after the onset of illness. The majority also had markedly higher numbers of a certain type of white blood cell known as an eosinophil"

An extended outbreak of 'valley fever' (fungal pneumonia) was pervasive in some Arizona areas due to massive sand/earth moving for new construction years ago. Hard to diagnose lung fungus without biopsies, and harder to cure. Most pneumonia and pneumonia-like diseases are generally treated as a virus. Problems arise because of the contra-indicators between viral medicines and fungal medicines.

[Eastbound]

Lemme re-state that last sentence:

Problems arise because anti-virals were prescribed for a fungal condition. Some anti-virals accelerates the growth of lung fungus and once the condition reaches a certain point, there is no cure and death occurs.

[mystery-ak]

LOL...no, Mike's birthday is Oct 7th...I just sent him 2 birthday packages and thought I'd change my tagline.....btw...I don't know how to start a thread, I would like to do it on the 7th though and send it to his e-mail address....

[Milligan]

Really? My neighbor back in Massachuesetts used to smoke these turkish cigs, they smelled awful and harsh on the throat. In the news, the guys in tanks with no smokes were battering for them. Exchange your MRE's? I am very happy that your hubby can get his brand. In Spain, it was a status symbol to own a pack of Marlboros because they were expensive. It nearly became currency. And your not suppose to do that.
One of the radioman, bought Pampers for his landlady to pay his rent out in town. He was caught and spent last part of enlistment in the Spanish legal system. He is happily married to a Spanish gal with kids and living in Cadiz.

[tubebender]

During the 1930's Dust Bowl, people were dying from dust pneumonia.

There is also a lung ailment in the San Joaquin Valley refered to as Valley Fever...

[mystery-ak]

He had no problem getting his brand in Kuwait...all the peddlars sold them...when they moved north into Iraq they became a little scarce, but he managed to find peddlars that sold them...now he thinks and has been told it's too risky to buy from them....Im sure he's tried the local brand..he's probably been desparate enough, either that or his troops are keeping him supplied....this isn't the time for their 1sgt to go cold turkey, if they know what's best for them.