Members Area

There is little point in trying to explain something I know nothing about, I’ll let the Media & the Government talk you through it;

EXTRACT FROM; BBC NEWS WORLD EDITION: 25TH MAY 2003

There is no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome, an official scientific study has concluded.

AN EXTRACT FROM MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEMORANDUM FOR THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEFENCE COMMITTEE’S ENQUIRY INTO VETERANS ISSUES FEBRUARY 2003

The Government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing Gulf veterans’ concerns openly, honestly, and seriously and will continue to do so. Gulf veterans’ illnesses issues remain a high priority for this Government, as evidenced by the Gulf Veterans’ Medical Assessment Programme and continuing support for research. The Government accepts that some Gulf veterans have become ill and that many believe this ill health is unusual and related to their Gulf experience. There is evidence that Gulf veterans report more ill-health than other comparable groups. However, the overwhelming consensus of the scientific and medical community, in which the Department shares, is that there is insufficient evidence to enable this ill-health to be characterised as a unique illness, condition or ‘syndrome’. The Department takes very seriously its responsibility to its Service personnel, given the demands made on them during operations. Since the end of the Gulf Conflict, the Department has implemented changes in a number of important health-related areas:

THE 1990/1991 GULF CONFLICT: UPDATED NOVEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND PERSONNEL RELATED LESSONS IDENTIFIED

It is possible that some Gulf veterans routinely exceeded the stated dose (on the possible basis that: ‘if one tablet is good, then two must be better’) or failed to maintain the 8-hourly dosage. It is more certain that large numbers stopped taking NAPS, despite the chemical warfare (CW) threat remaining high, at varying times prior to the order to stop, because they forgot, it was inconvenient, or they were experiencing some minor side effects. Further, the rationale for the use of NAPS tablets needs to be given more prominence in routine training.

HERE THEY TRY TO LAY THE BLAME ON THE SOLDIER, IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WHY THE EXCUSES!

MORE EXTRACTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEMO

Three vaccines, plague, anthrax and whole cell pertussis vaccines were used during the Gulf conflict as part of the anti-biological warfare immunisation programme. Whole cell pertussis vaccines are routinely used for immunisation of children, but are normally contra-indicated for adults. In the Gulf War context pertussis vaccine was used as an adjuvant and given concomitantly with anthrax vaccine (AVA). Although anthrax and pertussis vaccines are safe when used according to their marketing authorisations, no information is available on the safety of the combinations. Both vaccines are loosely defined preparations containing numerous biologically active components, and this may allow for hitherto unknown interactions.

SUMMARY:

I have spent months reading through pages and pages of information related to The Gulf War Illness, however this is a pointless exercise for me because I struggle to remember what I did the day before. My life revolves around reminder notes reminding me to read a previous note, memo boards I forget to read, conversations with people I’d swear I’ve never spoken too and appointments I miss. To come to a conclusion, it’s best you look up the information and make your own mind up!