DESERT ILLNESS (U)

File: 951016_502wp_00d.txt
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DESERT ILLNESS (U)

Filename:502wp.00d
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SUBJECT: DESERT ILLNESS (U)

1. [   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)   ]




24 OCTOBER 1994

SINCE SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY ARE ONCE AGAIN SERVING IN 
KUWAIT, I DECIDED TO WRITE TO YOU INFORMATION WHICH COULD RELATE 
TO THE RECURRENCE OF THE SO-CALLED DESERT ILLNESS, WHICH HAS 
ALREADY AFFLICTED SOME OF THE VETERANS OF THE RECENT WAR IN THAT 
REGION, AND WHOSE CAUSE, AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, HAS NOT YET BEEN 
SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED.

IN THE YEARS FROM 1978 TO 1983 I WORKED AS A CONSULTANT AT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE IN THE AL SABAH HOSPITAL OF KUWAIT 
CITY. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN THE 
INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT WHO HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE 
AMERICAN SOLDIERS EXPERIENCE FOLLOWING THE WAR IN KUWAIT. THE 
CAUSE OF THEIR ILLNESS WAS DUE TO THALLIUM POISONING.

SOMETIME DURING 1980 OR 1981 A LARGE DERATIFICATION ACTION WAS 
ACCOMPLISHED IN KUWAIT,

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DURING WHICH ALL CIVILIAN AREAS OF THE STATE WERE TREATED WITH 
LARGE QUANTITIES OF RATICIDE, WHOSE ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE 
THALLIUM COMPOUNDS. THE ACTION WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, BUT IN SOME 
AREAS THE RATICIDE GOT INTO THE BIOLOGICAL CHAIN AND THEN INTO 
MILKS WHICH WERE PRODUCED AT EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. THEIR CONSUMPTION 
LEAD TO ACUTE THALLIUM POISONING. THIS INCIDENT WAS NEVER 
PUBLISHED AND DOCTORS WERE INFORMED ABOUT IT ONLY VERBALLY. EVEN 
THOUGH MORE THAN TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THAT TIME, IT IS 
HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT LARGER QUANTITIES (HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS?) OF 
THIS RATICIDE ARE STILL PRESENT AT SOME PLACES IN KUWAIT (RAIN IN 
THE COUNTRY IS VERY RARE) AND THAT COMBAT OPERATIONS CAUSED THEIR 
DISPERSAL INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. SINCE THALLIUM IS ABSORBED INTO THE 
ORGANISM BY INGESTIVE AND RESPIRATIVE MECHANISMS, AND EVEN THROUGH 
UNBROKEN SKIN, IT COULD PERHAPS LEAD TO POISONING OF NOT ONLY 
SOLDIERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIONS, BUT EVEN OF THOSE WHO 
MOVED AROUND IN THE AREAS LATER ON.

     I AM ALREADY RETIRED, I AM AWARE IF THE ENTIRE MATTER ONLY 
THROUGH THE DAILY PRESS AND I HAVE THEREFORE COGITATED FOR A LONG 
TIME BEFORE I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS LETTER. I DO NOT DOUBT THAT 
THE AMERICAN DOCTORS HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD TO DISCOVER THE 
CAUSES OF THIS ILLNESS. ACCORDING TO NEWSPAPER REPORTS IT SEEMS, 
HOWEVER, THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS CONCENTRATED MAINLY ON POSSIBLE 
CAUSES OF A MILITARY CHARACTER AND THAT A "CIVILIAN" CAUSE COULD 
HAVE ESCAPED ATTENTION DUE TO THE LAPSE OF TIME. TAKING INTO 
ACCOUNT THAT THIS DANGER MIGHT STILL EXIST AND THAT MORE SOLDIERS 
COULD BECOME AFFLICTED, I REGARD IT MY MORAL OBLIGATION TO INFORM 
YOU OF MY HYPOTHESIS. I WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ANY NEWS AS 
TO WHETHER MY PREMISE IS CORRECT OR NOT.

                    DOC. MUDR JINDRICH BROUSIL, DRSC.
                     V ROVINACH 34, 140 00 PRAGUE 4
                     TEL. 436516

2. [   (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)   ]




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