Sick medics flown home

Six more army medics struck down by a mystery bug in Afghanistan are being evacuated to Britain today as efforts continue to try to establish the nature of the disease.

Two soldiers, in a serious condition, have already been evacuated, one to Germany and one to Britain, from the 34 Field Hospital stationed at Bagram airbase, north of Kabul. A total of 18 have been hit with the disease in the compound which has now been quarantined.

Royal Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ben Curry said those ill included men and women, but no names have been released.

Colonel Curry said the disease was thought to be Enteric Febrile illness, a stomach fever, but there is no more exact diagnosis.

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