• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Elevated transmission of upper respiratory illness among new recruits in military barracks in Thailand

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2015 Aug 14. doi: 10.1111/irv.12345. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]Elevated transmission of upper respiratory illness among new recruits in military barracks in Thailand.[/h] Levy JW[SUP]1[/SUP], Bhoomiboonchoo P[SUP]1[/SUP], Simasathien S[SUP]2[/SUP], Salje H[SUP]3[/SUP], Huang A[SUP]1[/SUP], Rangsin R[SUP]2[/SUP], Jarman RG[SUP]1[/SUP], Fernandez S[SUP]1[/SUP], Chonticha K[SUP]1[/SUP], Kittinun H[SUP]1[/SUP], Gibbons RV[SUP]1[/SUP], Yoon IK[SUP]1[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] New recruits within military barracks present conditions favorable for the spread of respiratory pathogens. However, respiratory pathogen transmission in such confined settings in the tropics has not been well studied.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] Recruits in four successive Royal Thai Army basic training classes living in military barracks were monitored for symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) or upper respiratory illness (URI). Classes 1 and 2 were also monitored after basic training. Nasal/throat swabs from acute illnesses were collected and tested by influenza RT-PCR (all four classes). In addition, class 1 had multiplex PCR performed along with analysis of bed locations within the barracks.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] ILI/URI rates ranged from 4.7 to 6.9 per 100 recruit-weeks in the four classes and generally decreased during the course of basic training (p<0.05 in three of four classes). Rates during basic training were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.29, 2.29) and 2.5 (95% CI: 1.5, 4.1) times higher than after basic training (classes 1 and 2, respectively). In class 1, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus and rhinovirus were the most commonly identified respiratory pathogens; only one influenza PCR-positive infection was detected in all four classes. Bed locations of URI/ILI cases in class 1 tended to be in closer proximity to each other.
[h=4]CONCLUSION:[/h] Basic training recruits in military barracks in the tropics had high rates of acute respiratory illnesses with illness patterns consistent with external seeding followed by substantial internal transmission. Our findings may contribute to control measures in similar confined settings both within and outside the military. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Human; Military; Respiratory Tract Infections; Thailand; Transmission

PMID: 26271648 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
 
Back
Top Bottom