Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Last Updated: Monday, 19 July, 2004, 13:36 GMT 14:36 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Gulf War veteran blames vaccines Gulf War veterans have complained of ill health since the 1991 conflict A Gulf war veteran has blamed a cocktail of vaccines for harming his health during the 1991 conflict. Turnbull, 52, from North Wales told the Gulf War Illnesses Inquiry in London that the treatment affected his breathing and caused chest pains. In 10 minutes he received vaccines including plague and anthrax, malaria and nerve agent pre-treatment tablets. The inquiry is examining the conditions which veterans say afflicted them on their return. Complaints by ex-servicemen include mood swings, memory loss, lack of concentration, night sweats, general fatigue, sexual problems, sensitivity to chemicals and cancerous tumours. Chemical alerts Mr Turnbull claims he was previously an A1 fit sub-aqua diver before he had five heart attacks and never dived again following his return. He told the hearing that he was in charge of a nuclear biological and chemical team when a scud missile was intercepted by a Patriot missile and a series of chemical alerts sounded. According to Mr Turnbull, control said the alarms sounded as a result of unburnt fuel on aircraft take-off. But he claims that no aircraft took off at the time and when he tested raw aircraft fuel with one of the affected alarms, it did not react " as in the presence of chemical weapons " . He added: " I haven't dived since the Gulf war. My health was A1 fit in November 1990 when I had a sub-aqua diving medical. " I haven't dived since the Gulf war due to chronic chest pains and asthma. " Suffered Another witness, Anwen Humphreys from Cardiff, also complained of similar symptoms after she took a cocktail of vaccines as she prepared to be deployed to the Gulf. The three week inquiry aims to establish the facts about Gulf war illnesses and resolve the long standing dispute over their causes. Support groups say that 6,000 veterans have suffered unexplained ill health since the conflict and more than 600 are said to have died. But the Ministry of Defence has constantly denied the existence of the so-called Gulf war syndrome and says there is no single cause of the illnesses suffered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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