Malaria, dengue hit Timor troops

BY REBECCA WALSH

Fourteen New Zealand soldiers have been treated for malaria since being sent to East Timor last September.

A further 10 soldiers have been confirmed with dengue fever.

Defence Force spokeswoman Captain Karen Webster said nine of the malaria cases had occurred in East Timor, while the rest had developed after the soldiers came home.

Since September, a total of 191 cases of malaria had been recorded for the Interfet/Untaet forces. Australian troops accounted for 110 of those, including 47 cases diagnosed after return to Australia.

There were 324 cases of dengue fever.

Asked about the difference between the Australian and New Zealand rates of the disease, Captain Webster said Australia had sent about five times more troops.

New Zealand had sent more than 1000 troops to East Timor and about 660 remained, including some air personnel.

The area that soldiers were sent to could have affected the numbers, she said. Most of the New Zealand soldiers were based in the south of the western sector, while the Australians were mainly based in the northern part of the border area.

Joint commander of the New Zealand force in East Timor, Brigadier Jerry Mateparae, said preventive measures had been taken against mosquito-borne diseases.

"Because of our procedures we have been fortunate to date. Our cases have not been overly serious, with a number of our personnel being treated in East Timor and returning to duty."

Preventive measures included the use of mosquito nets and repellent agents such as pyrethrum on clothes and bedding.