A statue of George Washington in front the Ford Mansion in Morristown, N.J., in 2020. During the French and Indian War in the 1750s, Washington contracted a severe case of diarrheal disease, a long-standing problem for troops in combat that is now engaging U.S. military medical researchers seeking a better way to treat diarrhea. (Mark Olsen/New Jersey National Guard)
The runs couldn’t hide from a medical research team that visited the U.S. military’s Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in search of ways to bolster troop combat readiness in Djibouti through better diarrhea treatment.
Navy personnel are working with Defense Department partners in the African country on methods related to the surveillance of infectious diarrheal diseases, a persistent threat to the health of forces in combat, the Naval Medical Research Command said in a statement Thursday.
During their stop, the researchers investigated a more streamlined approach for helping troops get their intestines back on track.
Typically, traveler’s diarrhea involves a five-day antibiotic regimen. But Navy researchers said the old-school approach runs up against the military’s priority of lighter loads for troops.
The traditional treatment requires “service members to carry a large amount of medication” and creates “logistical challenges for deployed units,” Naval Medical Research Command said.
In collaboration with other military researchers, the naval team is now focused on developing a single, low-dose treatment alternative, Navy Medical Research Command said.
Members of Naval Medical Research Unit Europe, Africa, Central pose for a photo Sept. 23, 2025, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Military researchers there are seeking a course of treatment for diarrhea that is easier on troops than standard five-day antibiotics regimen. ( Mark Simons/U.S. Navy)
The intent is to reduce the logistical burden of carrying treatments and cut down on the number of duty days lost due to diarrheal illness, the command’s statement said.
Diarrhea can cause serious disruptions for deployed military units, especially when cases quickly spread among troops living in close quarters.
The problem has menaced militaries ever since they’ve been fighting, afflicting grunts and generals alike.
George Washington’s case during the French and Indian War in the 1750s was so agonizing that he needed a pillow to soften the rectal pain while riding his horse. While modern medicine has improved matters, diarrhea remains a scourge.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing work by U.S. military researchers in 2023, said bacterial diarrhea is the No. 1 infectious disease threat to U.S. military operations.
“Infectious diarrhea is more than a medical issue; it’s a readiness issue,” Capt. Michael Prouty, commander of Naval Medical Research Unit EURAFCENT, said in the statement.
