2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

Breaking the chain:
Townsville Field Training Area 2010
Years in the making, a front line “crack” team of environmental health
professionals and specialists descended upon Townsville Field Training
Area (TFTA) in May 2010. The TFTA, never before completely assessed
by environmental health personnel, was to be dissected by entomologist
to virologists, Western Australians to Tasmanians. No stone was to be
left unturned, no insect was to escape investigation, and no water point
was to miss examination. From arboviruses to zoonotic diseases all was
to be exposed to the masses. This began the most comprehensive
Health Assessment ever to be completed on the TFTA.
For years myths circulated of an elite team of environmental health
brethren with roles idyllically tailored to break the chain of infection
and disease proactively in the field. Unknown to most, concealed in
doctrine, and laying dormant after several previous attempts to
orchestrate, was a Health Assessment Team (HAT).
HAT at Camp Engstrom (left to right), MAJ Steven Frances, CPL
Shannon Beckman, LT Ben Brumpton, PTE Kenneth Breen, CAPT Brady
McPherson, LCPL Ben Scalzo, CAPT Andrew Tout, CAPT Weng Chow, LT
Richard Bradbury, Dr Russell McInnes, MAJ Tim Inglis.
On the 12th May 2010, this myth became reality with a combined team
of 1st Health Support Battalion, 2nd Health Support Battalion, Army
Malaria Institute, full time and reservist members joining forces to
create the HAT. Exercise TOP HAT, as the field component was known,
was conducted during the period 12 – 21 May 2010 in the TFTA. The
HAT consisted of 11 personnel which included a Public Health Physician,
an Entomologist, Environmental Health Officers and technicians as well
as Scientific Officers. All these personnel had one key goal, to collect
and analyse environmental health information and advise on
environmental health countermeasures. In addition to key personnel
the HAT was bombed-up with a range of arsenal including;
Scientific Officer CAPT Weng Chow recording PCR results.
epidemiology surveillance data, geographical information systems,
water analysis equipment, environmental samplers, vector traps and a
sophisticated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory. Each piece of
equipment guided by skilled personnel provided a comprehensive
picture and analysis of the health risks associated with the TFTA.
The TFTA, which is located 50 km west of Townsville, North Queensland,
poses a number of important disease and safety threats to the health of
military personnel. Discussed below are some of the more interesting or
hazardous findings, beginning with climate. PCR results confirmed the
presence of the Ross River, Barmah Forest and Murray Valley
Encephalitis viruses within trapped mosquito vectors from the TFTA.
This finding enforces the need for strict compliance to mosquito control
measures by all personnel deploying into the TFTA.
Health surveillance data also revealed motor vehicle accidents as a
substantial risk to military personnel. The road system within the TFTA is
variable depending on the time of year and recent use. There have
been numerous motor vehicle accidents on the range in recent years
with several accidents occurring whilst the survey team was present in
the training area. This finding reinforces the need to exercise caution at
all times when driving a motor vehicle.
The close environment of military training also provides opportunities
for outbreaks of communicable diseases, particularly food and water
borne diseases and those relating to personal hygiene. It is imperative
that commanders enforce safe food and water practices and deploy with
adequate hygiene supplies such as soap and handtowel. Water sources
in the TFTA must be monitored by Environmental Health personnel to
ensure it is fit for consumption.
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