Acute respiratory epidemics in Australian Military Forces 1940

Acute respiratory infections due to a variety of viral pathogens can incapacitate entire military units. During World War II, recruit camp epidemics of respiratory infections at Woodside Camp South Australia and Puckapunyal Victoria caused considerable morbidity with up to 44% attack rates but littl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of military and veterans' health. Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 48 - 51
Main Authors G D Shanks, N Marsh
Format Journal Article
Published Canberra Department of Defence 01.05.2021
Subjects
Australia
Australian Defence Force
Control
Epidemics
Hospital care
Pathogenic microorganisms
Prevention
Respiratory infections
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Summary:Acute respiratory infections due to a variety of viral pathogens can incapacitate entire military units. During World War II, recruit camp epidemics of respiratory infections at Woodside Camp South Australia and Puckapunyal Victoria caused considerable morbidity with up to 44% attack rates but little if any mortality. Camp hospitals were filled with hundreds of recruits in 1940. An infantry battalion (2/9 BN AIF) experienced an epidemic of respiratory disease during its transit from the UK to Suez, Egypt, on a troopship. Although there were no deaths, 30% of the battalion became suddenly ill, and 17% were hospitalised over a single week in December 1940. COVID-19 has drawn modern attention to the casualty-producing potential of epidemic respiratory infections in military units, especially those crowded together for training or during transit to operational areas.
Bibliography:Journal of Military and Veterans Health, Vol. 29, No. 2, May 2021, 48-51
Informit, Melbourne (Vic)
ISSN:1835-1271