An outbreak of rubella in British troops in Bosnia

• DOI: 10.1017/s0950268897007450
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:23:42Z
• Authors: M. S. ADAMS; A. M. J. CROFT; D. A. WINFIELD; P. R. RICHARDS
• Keywords: Adult; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Male; United Kingdom; Disease Outbreaks; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Military Personnel; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Population Surveillance; Humans; Female; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Health Education; Rubella

An outbreak of rubella in April 1996 involved four male British

soldiers deployed to

Bosnia–Herzegovina. All were helicopter ground crew who were

members of the same unit and

who periodically travelled to and worked at forward air refuelling

stations in Bosnia. There

was a potential for spread of the infection to adjacent British units, to

troops of other nations

in the peacekeeping force, and also to the local civilian population.

The British force included

620 female personnel, some of whom may have been non-immune to rubella. One pregnant

British servicewoman was repatriated to UK for her own protection.

There was a potential

health risk, including the possibility of congenital rubella syndrome,

in the non-immune wives

and partners of deployed male personnel, as a result of contact during

the mid-tour home

leave of the husbands or partners. The outbreak was monitored through

a medical surveillance

system known as ARRC 97, and was contained by prompt and rigorous

control measures. This

outbreak shows the importance of effective surveillance and of good

microbiology laboratory

support during military operations. The role of immunization against

rubella during future military deployments is discussed.