Gulf War Syndrome is not just something in the heads of the soldiers who fought in the 1991 Middle East war, but is a real illness that requires treatment, says a Michigan State University epidemiologist.
Speaking at a Centers for Disease Control conference on Gulf War Syndrome, Marie Swanson said Gulf War veterans could have been affected by any number of things, including smoke from oil well fires, pesticides, and exposure to chemicals from solvents and corrosive liquids.
Swanson, who also is director of the Cancer Center at MSU, also suggested that many soldiers suffered from inadequate nutrition from long-term use of food rations, and that many soldiers were feeling the effects of vaccines designed to fight biological agents such as anthrax.
In addition to the myriad physical ailments, Swanson said stress played a major role in Gulf War Syndrome.
"War isn't what it used to be," she said. "Modern war is very technical and the psychological effects can be devastating."
An example: With the advent of cell phones and other modern means of communication, many soldiers were able to stay in touch with their families while serving in the Middle East.
"So," she said, "in addition to the stress of war, the soldiers also had to deal with family problems and the effect the conflict was having on them."
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Contact: Marie Swanson, Cancer Center at Michigan State University, (517) 353-8828,
or Tom Oswald, MSU Media Communications, (517) 355-2281, [email protected]
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