[Infectious hazards in military personnel in operations]

Abstract

Military personnel in operations have always paid a high toll to infections, particularly epidemics. Currently, 40 000 servicemen serve overseas in various missions and operations of various durations in various countries. Infectious hazards persist in spite of the implementation of preventive measures. They are primarily due to poor sanitation, promiscuous living conditions, and the operational situation : bacterial diarrhea, amoebiasis, viral hepatitis A and E are relatively frequent. Others are due to the tropical environment ; malaria remains a concern due to its chemoresistance ; bilharziosis can also cause small epidemics, cutaneous leishmaniasis is not rare in Guyana. Exceptional but serious infections are observed. Infectious hazards associated with warfare are reviewed : biological warfare, infections of wounded, burnt and irradiated soldiers.