Forum Brief: Gulf war syndrome

Four soldiers are threatening to sue the Ministry of Defence, claiming that multiple vaccinations administered to them on a single day have resulted in symptoms associated with Gulf war syndrome.

The claim comes after defence secretary Geoff Hoon explicitly said that soldiers would not receive multiple vaccinations in a single day.

Forum Response: Royal British Legion

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion told ePolitix.com: "We are glad to hear that the government has pledged to conduct a 'screening programme' of veterans returning from Iraq and we hope that that will help to identify and gain treatment for any health problems as soon as possible."We offer our wide range of welfare assistance to these individuals and their families, and others affected by the Iraq conflict, as well as our whole constituency among the ex-service community."The Medical Research Council recently published (May 23, 2003) its scientific research in to Gulf war-induced illness and stated that it does not believe there is enough evidence for 'a unique Gulf war syndrome'.

"Therefore, any fresh claims (from either Gulf conflict) will be measured against that research and it seems likely that only those with a substantially different symptom could be assessed beyond the boundaries of the current research findings and recommendations."