Is Gulf War Syndrome Spreading?
CH I C A G O, Sept. 15 Hundreds of U.S. military personnel have complained of symptoms characteristic of Gulf War illness even though they never served in that conflict. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 15 percent of 2,520 members of the Air Force had complained of symptoms similar to those associated with the mysterious medical affliction. None served in the 1990-91 U.S. military buildup and conflict against Iraq, the researchers said. The study of active-duty personnel, begun in 1994, also suggested that Gulf War illness among those who did serve in the conflict might be more widespread than first thought. More Cases The CDC said that 45 percent of 1,155 active-duty Air National Guard Gulf War veterans who served in the Gulf complained of symptoms associated with Gulf War illness. That compared with previous estimates of 12 percent of the 500,000 troops who served in the Gulf War. Symptoms of Gulf War illness include muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue, l
