US troops catch malaria in Liberia

Nearly one-third of the American troops who served in Liberia contracted malaria even though they had been given anti-malarial drugs.

A Pentagon health official, Michael Kilpatrick, said about 80 of 200 marines sent ashore to secure Monrovia's port and airport in support of an African peacekeeping force developed the disease.

The Defence Department was investigating the reasons, he said.

Some of the troops might have got the disease from "not taking the medication correctly or not having adequate levels [of medication] in the blood even though it was taken correctly".

Kilpatrick said other possible causes of the mosquito-borne disease could involve improper use or failure to use insect repellents, treated uniforms or mosquito netting.