Military Aspects of Cholera in POW/Refugee Camps

Although historically greatly feared due to its ability to kill quickly from dehydration, cholera has not featured in recent ADF military operations except in 2010 when United Nations Peacekeepers from Nepal were linked to the introduction of cholera into post-earthquake Haiti. The collapse of field sanitation during the building of the Thai-Burma railway by Allied Prisoners of War (POW) led to multiple lethal cholera epidemics in 1943. Despite half of affected POW dying of cholera, the case rates were only about 10% of those exposed; the disease appeared to spare officers, Dutch soldiers and those recently immunised with killed, whole-cell vaccines. Factors that may also have played a role in the POW camps include malnutrition-induced hypochlorhydria, ABO blood type and lack of oral rehydration therapy knowledge. Oral cholera vaccine might be considered for use in the ADF during tropical operations, including disaster relief efforts in populations with active cholera epidemics.

Automated summary

Despite being greatly feared historically, cholera has not been present in recent ADF military operations. However, in 2010, United Nations Peacekeepers from Nepal were linked to introducing cholera into post-earthquake Haiti. During the construction of the Thai-Burma railway in 1943, the collapse of field sanitation led to lethal cholera epidemics among Allied Prisoners of War (POW). Different factors, such as malnutrition-induced hypochlorhydria, ABO blood type, and lack of knowledge about oral rehydration therapy, might have played a role in the POW camps.