Hepatitis E virus infection in Thai troops deployed with U.N. peacekeeping forces.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is thought to be endemic throughout much of the world, particularly where sanitary infrastructure remains inadequate. HEV has been considered a military health threat and has been reported in several military environments. This study determined HEV seroconversion (defined by a 4-fold increase in antibody titers) occurring in Thai soldiers deployed to the HEV-endemic areas of East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as part of the U.