Mystery 'fever' hits UK army medics in Afghanistan

Eighteen Army medical personnel serving with the British forces in Afghanistan have been taken ill with an unidentified ‘‘feverish’’ illness, the British Ministry of Defence said tonight.

Two of the personnel were said to be ‘‘very seriously ill’’ - one has been flown back to Britain and the other is being taken to a US hospital in Germany.

All 18 were working at the 34 Field Hospital at the Bagram airbase which has now been closed as a precautionary measure except to further suspected cases of the illness.

The remaining staff at the hospital were also continuing to care for the 16 people struck down with the disease who have not been evacuated.

‘‘The exact nature of the illness is not yet known and medical tests continue to isolate the cause,’’ the MoD said.

‘‘However the illness appears to be contagious and as a precaution 34 Field Hospital has been closed to all but similar cases. It will be reopened for normal medical cover as soon as possible.’’