Ten members of Congress, led by Metcalf, want the Defense Department to consider using the Tulane test on other veterans, saying it could help answer questions about Gulf illnesses. The Defense Department says an estimated 90,000 troops who served in the Gulf War complain of illnesses such as fatigue, skin rashes, headaches and muscle and joint pain. Defense officials have not ruled out pesticides, stress and pyridostigmine bromide, an experimental drug given to troops to protect against the nerve agent soman, as possible contributors to some of the illnesses. The Squalene Molecule Squalene is a natural molecule that government and private researchers have tested in vaccines to make them more effective. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any vaccines containing squalene for use in the United States.
Military officials say no Gulf War vaccines contained squalene.
The GAO said Defense officials did not have documentation on the process and results of vaccine decision-making. Some officials involved in the decision no longer work for the Pentagon, declined to be interviewed or could not be located, the GAO said. The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.