Korean hemorrhagic fever: environmental health and medical surveillance measures.
Throughout history, battles, campaigns, and wars have often been decided by diseases, rather than bullets and tacticians. During the Korean War, Korean hemorrhagic fever (KHF) afflicted several thousand allied soldiers and an unknown number of Communist soldiers. This disease, and other members of a closely related group, the hemorrhagic fevers with renal syndrome, represent a continuing worldwide military and civilian threat. Through inexpensive and flexible environmental health measures, and readily available medical surveillance and testing, it is now possible to reduce the risk from this disease. In this paper, we will outline various environmental health measures developed to reduce the risk of contracting KHF and the justification for their use. We will also discuss a medical surveillance and testing program designed to get at-risk and symptomatic individuals to definitive care quickly in order to reduce overall morbidity and mortality.
Marshall
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Medical Department, 3d Marine Division, FMF, FPO San Francisco, CA 96602.
Rhodes
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D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008886:Military Hygiene; D008889:Military Personnel