In 1998, the IOM began a series of congressionally-mandated studies to examine the scientific and medical literature on the potential health effects of chemical and biological agents related to the 1991 Gulf War.  Read more about the earlier studies.

In 2005, an Institute of Medicine committee reviewed, evaluated, and summarized the peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature on long-term adverse human health effects associated with selected infectious diseases pertinent to Gulf War veterans.  The infectious diseases included, but were not limited to, diseases caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli, shigellosis, leishmaniasis, and sandfly fever.

This study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This is the fourth study in a series of studies on Gulf War exposures and human health effects. The study is mandated by Congressional legislation (P.L. 105-368 and P.L. 105-277).