UNCLASSIFIED Vector-Borne Disease Control in Peacekeeping and Combat Operations MAJ Elizabeth Wanja Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS) [email protected]www. afrims .org Asia Pacific Military Health Exchange Da Nang, Vietnam 14-18 September 2015
17
Embed
Vector-Borne Disease Control in Peacekeeping and Combat Operations MAJ Elizabeth Wanja Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS)
“ This will be a long war, if for every Division I have facing the enemy, I must count on a second Division in the hospital with malaria, and a third Division convalescing from this debilitating disease” General Douglas MacArthur (1943) Introduction
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
UNCLASSIFIED
Vector-Borne Disease Control in Peacekeeping and Combat
Operations
MAJ Elizabeth WanjaArmed Forces Research Institute
DisclaimerThe views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not represent the official policy or position of AFRIMS, the US Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or US Government.
This work was funded by the United States Africa Command (US-AFRICOM) and Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSC-GEIS)
UNCLASSIFIED
“This will be a long war, if for every Division I have facing the enemy, I must count on a
second Division in the hospital with malaria, and a third Division convalescing
from this debilitating disease”
General Douglas MacArthur (1943)
Introduction
UNCLASSIFIED
• Wartime epidemics severely reduce fighting strength• Until WW1, infectious diseases rather than battle and
non-battle injuries were main causes of morbidity and mortality
• Advances in military hygiene and disease-control measures has resulted in disease decline
• Unfortunately, these diseases remain of central importance in developing countries in terms of morbidity and mortality
Introduction Cont…
UNCLASSIFIED
• Vector-borne diseases especially malaria and dengue fever remain top threats during contingency and combat deployments
• Most preventable with a combination of •The right prophylaxis•Proper use of personal protective measures (PPM)•Vector control•Proper sanitation
Introduction Cont…
UNCLASSIFIED
•Example between 2004 & 2006 Swedish troops deployed to Liberia - no malaria cases • Reason-Soldiers used DEET-based repellent,
mosquito nets, and took anti-malaria tablets
• In contrast in Liberia, 2003• 44 U.S. Marines evacuated- with confirmed or
presumed P. falciparum malaria
• Reason: Failure to use PPE and inadequate adherence with chemo-prophylaxis
Introduction Cont…
UNCLASSIFIED
Major Issues• For peace-keeping operations, issues include
1. PPE Availability- Limited• Bed Nets• DEET/ Topical repellents• Treated Uniforms
2. PPE Acceptability• Permethrin-treated uniforms / DEET-cause skin diseases to include cancer• Malaria prophylaxis drugs cause psychiatric problems
3. Lack of education/ information on***• Proper application of PPE• Importance of sanitation for vector disease control