mysteriöses fieber in afghanistan identifiziert - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

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Bug Which Hit UK Troops in Afghanistan Identified 18-May-2002 14:30:57 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - The Ministry of Defense on Saturday said
it had identified the mystery ailment which has laid low dozens
of British troops in Afghanistan.

Officials told journalists at a briefing it was "Winter
Vomiting," an illness characterized by one or two days of
vomiting and diarrhea.

Twenty-two British servicemen reported sick Friday with the
illness that has struck a field hospital at Bagram Airbase near
Kabul this week, taking to 40 the total number afflicted.

Scotland was recently hit by an outbreak. "Winter vomiting
disease is caused by a group of viruses called Small Round
Structured Viruses," Dr. Peter Christie, Consultant at the
Scottish Center for Infection and Environmental Health, said on
a Web site.

"They usually cause short-lasting outbreaks but are
extremely infectious and can affect a high proportion of people
in class rooms, hospital wards or even in tour buses."

"Good hygiene, especially hand-washing, can cut down the
risk of spreading the virus, although it can still travel
through the air to land on food and so infect other people,"
Scotland`s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mac Armstrong said.

One of the newly-infected British soldiers was seriously
ill and was due to be flown back to Britain late Friday. Eight
medical personnel working at the field hospital in Bagram were
airlifted out of Afghanistan earlier.

The field hospital has been closed and more than 300 people
have been quarantined.


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[M_B_S]

Scheint harmlos zu sein :

Fact Sheet on Winter Vomiting Bug


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Winter Vomiting Bug FAQs

Fact Sheet on Winter Vomiting Bug

Fact sheet on Winter Vomiting Bug

- adapted from the NDSC



Winter vomiting disease is caused by viruses known as Small Structured Viruses (SRSV) or Norwalk-like Viruses(NLVs). They usually cause short-lasting outbreaks but can be extremely infectious. Illness due to SRSV is usually mild, lasting less than 2-3 days. The incubation period is generally about 24-48 hours but may be as short as 6 hours. Abdominal pain and nausea are usually the first symptoms followed by vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is usually quite mild. It rarely causes severe problems, however, it may be quite unpleasant and debilitating in older people.



Human beings are the only known source of SRSV. Spread of the virus may occur through:

Infected food handlers – passing the virus on to people with whom they can come in contact

Contaminated food – (most commonly shellfish, but also fruit and salads which have been washed with contaminated water)

Person to person spread – this is quite a common method of spread in settings such as hospitals and nursing homes

Water – drinking water that is inadequately treated or contaminated may transmit the virus, as may contaminated ice-cubes, swimming in or brushing ones teeth with contaminated water.



SRSV can remain infectious for several days on surfaces, in fabrics and upholstery. Thorough decontamination to remove the virus from soiled surfaces and furnishings is necessary. Although the illness is mild, the outbreaks we are seeing in hospitals are reflections of what is going on in the community.



Since SRSV is so widespread, it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent its spread. Good personal hygiene, especially if you are suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting is essential.

Frequent hand washing with hot water and soap for at least 20 seconds is a very effective way of limiting the spread of all bacteria and viruses that cause gastroenteritis. It is essential for those looking after elderly people, babies and small children and people who have difficulty with personal hygiene.

Hands should be washed:

In the Bathroom
After using the toilet or touching surfaces in the bathroom
After changing nappies (remember to wash the child’s hands as well)
After helping a child go to the toilet
Whenever your hands have come in contact with vomit, saliva and runny noses.
In the Kitchen
Before preparing or eating food, especially food that does not need any further cooking
After touching raw meat, poultry, fish or eggs
After meals and snacks
Elsewhere
After touching any animals, even your own pets
After working or playing in the garden
After touching bins and other waste
Whenever your hands are dirty


It is extremely important that people who have been ill with vomiting or diarrhoea should remain out of work for 2 full days after their symptoms have stopped. This and thorough hand washing are two of the best ways to prevent spread of this organism.

Wenn es das Virus ist !