Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases: challenges and opportunities for militaries.

The communal nature of living and training environments, alongside suboptimal hygiene and stressors in the field, place military personnel at higher risk of contracting emerging infectious diseases. Some of these diseases spread quickly within ranks resulting in large outbreaks, and personnel deployed are also often immunologically naïve to otherwise uncommonly-encountered pathogens. Furthermore, the chance of weaponised biological agents being used in conventional warfare or otherwise remains a very real, albeit often veiled, threat.

Emergence of norovirus GI.2 outbreaks in military camps in Singapore.

Background: Simultaneous acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks occurred at two military camps. This study details the epidemiological findings, explores possible origins, and discusses preventive measures.

Methods: Investigations included attack rate surveys, symptom surveys, hygiene inspections, and the testing of water, food, and stool samples.