Disease nonbattle injury surveillance for commander, Joint Task Force Haiti, 2004

We analyzed weekly disease nonbattle injury data from the Joint Task Force in Haiti during 2004. Surveillance found 908 initial visits during 17,938 person-weeks, for an overall rate of 5.1% (95% confidence interval, 4.7-5.4%), above the reference rate of 4% suggested by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rates of dermatological (1%), respiratory (0.8%), and other medical/surgical (0.9%) conditions were above suggested rates, whereas rates of work injuries (0.6%) and recreational injuries (0.8%) were below suggested rates. Leading causes of light duty (n = 1,079; 6.01 days per 100 person-weeks) were recreational injuries (39%) and work-related injuries (36%), followed by other medical/surgical conditions (12%). One case of malaria was reported during the deployment. These rates are lower than disease nonbattle injury rates of 9.2% to 13% reported for multinational forces from previous operations in Haiti. They are also lower than rates of 7.1% to 8.1% reported from Bosnia and Kosovo in the late 1990s.