422ND MED DET MEMO SUS FOOD ILL OUTBREAK QUASEMAH 4 APR 91

File: 092496_aug96_decls23_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 2

Subject: 422ND MED DET MEMO SUS FOOD ILL OUTBREAK QUASEMAH 4 APR 91      

Unit: 22D SUPCOM  

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box ID: BX005153

Folder Title: HISTORICAL FILE  422ND MED DET                                                                  

Document Number:         55

Folder SEQ  #:         23

















                              DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                          422ND MEDICAL DETACHMENT (VS)
                              TEAM 3, HAFAR AL BATIN
                             APO, NEW YORK, NY 09734


              MEMORANDUM FOR: Commander                        4 April 1991
                               422nd Medical Detachment (VS)
                               HQ, KKMC
                               APO, New York, NY 09734


              SUBJECT: Suspected Foodborne Illness Outbreak Near Quasemah,
              Saudi Arabia.


              On 3 April, 1991, the 422nd Medical Detachment - Team 3 was
              contacted by the staff of the 410 Evac Hospital to investigate
              an outbreak of foodborne illness. An outbreak of gastrointestinal
              disease suspected to be due to a foodborne etiology had occurred
              in several U.S. Army units near Quasemah, Saudi Arabia. The 410
              Evac Hospital examined and treated 54 cases on the 2nd and 3rd
              of April. Nine patients required hospitalization. The majority
              of these cases were from six units, all located near the airfield
              at Quasemah. The six units were as follows:

                        511th MI
                        307th MI
                        F Co., 51st Infantry
                        66th MP
                      *148th EVAC
                        107th MP

              Per the attending physician, COL. Phillips of the 410 Evac,
              all patients had eaten food from the Quasemah catering site April
              lst. The menu was fresh tossed lettuce salad, chicken, and rice.
              All patients treated had eaten the chicken and rice, not all had
              consumed the salad.

              The first symptoms occurred 8 to 12 hours after eating the
              catered meal. Symptoms exhibited included nausea, vomiting, diarr@
              abdomenal cramping, dehydration, lethargy, and high fever - up to
           1030F. No neurological signs were observed.

              The 14th Preventative Medicine group reported that protozoal
              organisms were found on the salad items, and that protozoal gastro-
              -enteritis was strongly suspected. However, not all victims consumed

Document 2 f:/Week-34/BX005153/HISTORICAL FILE 422ND MED DET/422nd med det memo sus food ill outbreak quasema:09209615583762
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX005153
Unit = 22D SUPCOM
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = HISTORICAL FILE 422ND MED DET
Folder Seq # = 23
Subject = 422ND MED DET MEMO SUS FOOD ILL OUTBREAK QUASEMA
Document Seq # = 62
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 20-SEP-1996