RP peacekeepers downed by malaria

RP peacekeepers downed by malaria

MANILA (AFP): More than half the 577 Filipino soldiers who served with the UN peacekeeping force in East Timor returned stricken with malaria, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.

All but four of the first batch of 334 soldiers who returned in June after a six-month tour of duty with a malaria strain that is immune to chloroquine, Colonel Jaime Canatoy said, adding that the group was subsequently treated with mesloquine.

Only one of the second batch of 243 soldiers who returned on Monday was stricken with malaria and he is recuperating at a military hospital here, Canatoy said in a statement.

The two contingents sustained no casualties though military spokesmen have said two of the group were treated for snake bites.