One consequence of the Invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, exposure to tropical disease. Stanley Aronson breaks down the history of the disease known as leishmaniasis, though it is also known as Burwan Fever, the Aleppo boil, espundia, Dumdum fever and yes, the Baghdad Boil. Thousands of our troops have been diagnosed and, because of its slow presentation of symptoms, our doctors back home need to read up and be prepared to diagnose and treat it after troops arrive back home.
About Lance
I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com.
I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college.
I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting.
I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us.
I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere.
Lance
The 2,500 number Aronson quotes in his article is for officially diagnosed soldiers a few years ago as that is what comes from the military. Many soldiers are diagnosed in the field with cutaneous leishmaniasis and stay right where they are. Most contractors have never heard of leishmaniasis though many of them have it and are clueless,. along with their doctors, as to what is wrong with them.
Leishmaniasis is transmitted sexually, congenitally, by blood transfusion in addition to sandfly bites. There is no sterile cure. It can take up to twenty years to present symptoms in an otherwise healthy person. Despite this, the ban on blood donations for those coming from Iraq and Afghanistan is only for one year and that is not always followed. Leish can live in stored blood for thirty days. It’s my understanding that there is not any blood hanging around on the shelf for nearly that long these days.
The danger to our blood supply is very real.
The danger to spouses is very real.
Thanks for bringing attention to this parasite.
http://www.iraqinfections.org
Marcie,
Thanks for the information. I will take some time tonight to peruse your website. I think this is an unappreciated aspect of the cost of warfare, the potential to spread disease. It is somewhat strange that that would be so given the history of the spread of disease during wartime, most spectacularly during WWI with the devastating influenza outbreak of 1918.