Susceptibility of Officers

Spooner (1943) noted that British officers were 4.7 times as prone to infection as other ranks. This did not apply to the same extent among New Zealand officers, but the incidence was higher than among the men. This is explained by the fact that an officer lives a more protected life than the soldier and enjoys better conditions all round in base camps, the contrast being greater in the British Army, where the susceptibility in an epidemic was higher and the incidence higher. The contrast did exist in the 2 NZEF in base units, but to a lesser extent. Officers in the field, of course, ran the same risk of infection as the men, and the incidence depended on the resistance gained during residence in the country while in base camps, etc.

British troops showed the greatest susceptibility to hepatitis of all troops in the Middle East, while New Zealand troops came next, whereas Indians and Maoris showed the least susceptibility. This latter statement is so far unexplained, but was a very noticeable feature.