Former soldier sues MoD for failing to give him antibiotics for Q fever which has ruined his life since he caught it while serving in Afghanistan
- Wayne Bass was serving in Helmand Province when he caught infectious disease
- The Army failed to give him antibiotics for Q fever, caused by animal feaces
- His case is now first in history to test MoD’s duty to protect against the infection
A former soldier is suing the Ministry of Defence after he contracted Q fever while serving in Afghanistan.
Wayne Bass, from Redditch, Worcestershire, said his life has been ruined after the Army failed to give him antibiotics for the infectious disease caused by breathing dust from animal feaces.
He claims he is now unable to work, struggles to walk and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and night terrors.
Mr Bass’ case is now the first in history to test the MoD’s duty to protect against Q fever.
Wayne Bass (pictured), from Redditch, Worcestershire, said his life has been ruined after the Army failed to give him antibiotics for Q fever
The former solider was a private from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment and served in Helmand Province in 2011 – an area with heavy Taliban presence.
He told the BBC: ‘To avoid enemy fire I was constantly having to dive into ditches on the ground where farm animals had been, there were animals all over the place’.
Mr Bass, who went on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, says that the Army failed to provide the antibiotic doxycycline to protect from the risk of Q fever.
He claims he now suffers from aches and pains all over his body and he has nerve problems in his back which often leaves him immobile.
Mr Bass was a private from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment and served in Helmand Province in 2011 – and area with heavy Taliban presence
The former soldier, who went on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, says that the Army failed to provide the antibiotic doxycycline to protect from the risk of Q fever
He told the BBC: ‘It has brought about a spike in my post-traumatic stress disorder, I have night terrors, I feel very low and isolated, very depressed. I am on anti-depressants. I can’t see a future.’
The five-day trial, starting at Central London County Court on Monday, will examine the extent of any duty owed by the Army to Mr Bass in relation to Q fever, and whether that duty was breached.
Justin Glenister, partner at Hilary Meredith Solicitors, the firm acting for Mr Bass said: ‘This is the first case in which the question will be asked whether the MoD had a duty to protect soldiers against this known risk of Q fever, which we say was a preventable risk, and what steps it ought to have taken to protect them.
‘There are other similar cases being prepared.’
The MoD said it was inappropriate to comment while legal proceedings were ongoing.
Humans can catch Q fever after breathing in particles from the faeces of infected farm animals such as sheep, cattle and goats.
The NHS says the bacterial infection is ‘usually harmless, but can cause serious problems in some people’.