Human Rights Commission: "A Rapid Response System for Acute Febrile Illness in Military Personnel Must Be Established"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 15th that it recommended the Ministry of National Defense establish a rapid response system for acute febrile illnesses in connection with the case of an Army soldier who died after being infected with Hantavirus Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever in 2020.

This recommendation is the result of the first ex officio investigation conducted after the launch of the Military Human Rights Protection Officer in July last year. The Human Rights Commission explained that it was made with the intention of establishing a rapid response system specifically for acute febrile illnesses, considering the characteristics of military units that frequently engage in outdoor activities.

Earlier, in August 2020, a petition was filed with the Human Rights Commission urging the punishment of responsible parties related to the case of an Army soldier who died after being infected with Hantavirus Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever during outdoor training. Hantavirus Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever is an acute febrile illness caused by infection with the Hantan virus and others. It causes fever, back pain, and bleeding, and can infect both humans and animals.

The Military Human Rights Protection Committee of the Human Rights Commission confirmed through the ex officio investigation of the petition case, which began in July last year, that there were no confirmed cases of acute febrile illness diagnosed at division medical units in the past five years, and that most soldiers were diagnosed at higher-level military hospitals. It was also confirmed that although early identification of Hantavirus Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever infections was lacking, the military did not properly manage vaccination records, which are supposed to be administered three times a year.

Based on these investigation results, the Human Rights Commission recommended that the Minister of National Defense inform all soldiers about the risks and importance of prevention of Hantavirus Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever, and that frontline unit commanders be made aware of the importance of managing vaccination records. It also recommended establishing a management system centered on the Armed Forces Medical Command. Additionally, it urged the active use of available testing equipment during the treatment of febrile patients to enable early diagnosis of acute febrile illnesses.