Infectious Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreaks on U.S. Navy Ships
Author Information
Author(s): Mark S. Riddle, Bonnie L. Smoak, Scott A. Thornton, Joseph S. Bresee, Dennis J. Faix, Shannon D. Putnam
Primary Institution: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Hypothesis
What is the incidence of infectious gastrointestinal illness outbreaks aboard U.S. Navy ships deployed to the Middle East during 2000-2001?
Conclusion
Infectious gastrointestinal illness outbreaks are common on U.S. Navy ships and can significantly impact mission readiness.
Supporting Evidence
- 11 possible IGI outbreaks were identified during the study period.
- The mean outbreak duration was 4.4 weeks.
- The mean cumulative ship population attack rate was 3.6%.
- Morbidity was higher during outbreak weeks compared to non-outbreak weeks.
Takeaway
Sailors on Navy ships can get sick from germs that spread easily, and this can make it hard for them to do their jobs.
Methodology
Retrospective analysis of weekly reported disease and non-battle injury health data from 44 U.S. Navy ships.
Potential Biases
The definition of outbreaks may miss shorter outbreaks and could bias results towards longer durations.
Limitations
The study relied on passive reporting, which may underestimate the true incidence of outbreaks.
Participant Demographics
Sailors aboard 44 U.S. Navy ships deployed in the Persian Gulf.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 3.8, 4.3
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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