07% (95% CI: 3.80%–9.13%) at a rate of 9.00/1,000 person deployment months (pdm) (95% CI: 5.57–13.8). Dengue fever seroconversion was recorded in 4.91% (95% CI: 3.40%–6.83%) at a rate of 8.57/1,000 pdm (95% CI: 5.90–12.0). The relative risk of dengue infection was 7.47 for Timor Leste compared to all other deployment destinations. An association between
seroconverting for both dengue fever and Strongyloides was found. Tuberculosis Sunitinib in vivo conversion was recorded in 1.76% (95% CI: 0.85%–3.21%) at a rate of 2.92/1,000 pmd (95% CI: 1.48–5.375). A single case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion was recorded. There were no recorded hepatitis C seroconversions. Conclusions. Police deploying overseas appear to have similar rates of dengue and tuberculosis conversion as other groups of travelers, and they appear to be at low risk of hepatitis
C and HIV. Strongyloidiasis appears to be a significant risk; postdeployment prevalence was markedly higher than that reported in a small number of studies. A number of countries, including New Zealand (NZ), deploy members of their police force overseas; find more as such, they are a special group of international travelers. Only one published study reporting health risks in police deployed overseas has been identified.1 Considerably more data is published on military deployments,2 which may share some similarities with police deployments. New Zealand Police (NZP) personnel (both sworn officers and non-sworn staff) deploy to a number of developing countries throughout the Pacific and Asia (Table 1). Roles include peace keeping, advising and mentoring local police, postconflict capacity building, and response to natural disasters.3 Length of deployment varies but is typically 6 months. As an employer, NZP has recognized that it has a duty of care to minimize health risks associated with overseas deployments; personnel undergo comprehensive pre- and postdeployment medical reviews including testing for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus, dengue fever virus, tuberculosis, and Strongyloides stercoralis. The rationale to screen for these particular diseases varies with respect to risk of infection, future potential personal and public health OSBPL9 impact, and feasibility of testing. Audit of these results will also help rationalize predeployment health preparation and in-country anti-infection strategies. The soil-transmitted helminth, S stercoralis, is widespread in the tropics and subtropics.4 The helminth can autoinfect facilitating ongoing infection many years post travel.5 Ongoing infection can cause considerable morbidity5 and is a risk for disseminated disease (with high case fatality rates) in those who are immunosuppressed in the future.6 Personnel infected can be offered treatment to reduce these health impacts.