The Effect of Experimentally Induced Viral Infection on Physical Performance Capacity

摘要

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a viral infection upon the individual soldier's performance capabilities. Sandfly fever was induced for this study, not because of any threat which sandfly fever may potentially carry, but because it is an appropriate disease model for a viral infection. Sandfly fever, known medically as Phlebotomus or Papatasi fever, is a self-limiting febrile illness which is transmitted by biting insects of the genus Phlebotomus. Although this illness is not serious clinically, it does have a tendency toward explosive outbreaks in large groups of susceptible individuals after short periods of exposure and thus has some potential for hazard to military operations in certain parts of the world. However, the reason for its use in this study is that it is a well understood, limited, viral illness which is suitable for study as a model infection. (Author)