Figure 2-1. The five "F" factors.
2-2.
MILITARY IMPORTANCE
a. Peacetime Food-Borne and Water-Borne Disease. In peacetime, high
levels of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene on the part of Army personnel
and nearby civilian populations combine to hold the incidence of food- and water-borne
diseases to a minimum.
In 1962, gastroenteritis and food poisoning totaled 15,623 cases for the
Army, and in 1963, 14,862.
This is an average of about 13 cases per thousand per year.
b. Current Disease Rate. Of late, about 90 percent of admissions for intestinal
disease are for bacillary dysentery or some type of food poisoning.
c. Wartime. In time of war, mobilization, or catastrophe, the intestinal disease
problem is magnified.
In the first several months of any past war, the incidence of intestinal
disease has risen to very high levels and contributed to a high degree of non-
effectiveness.
This pattern is expected to hold for any future campaign.
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2-3