Observations on the Health of United States Personnel Living in Cairo, Egypt

SummaryA study of illnesses among 57 Americans living in Cairo, Egypt, as compared with previous health experience, showed a four-fold increase in sick days due to minor illness. This increase was due in major part to increased incidence of infectious diarrheal disease, communicable respiratory disease, and infections of the skin and eye. The incidence and duration of attacks of diarrheal disease were not greatly lessened during the months ensuing after arrival in Cairo. The health environment with respect to communicable disease incidence in Cairo is discussed.