August 10, 2007 – On August 6, 2007, the USNS Comfort arrived in Salaverry, Perú, with a detachment from the HHS U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps composed of six physicians, two dentists, four dental hygienists, two nurses, three environmental health officers, and one veterinarian.
In addition, LCDR Gregory Langham, HHS veterinarian, and his colleagues provided veterinary services to 469 animals, including 11 head of dairy cattle, two horses, two donkeys, 21 sheep, 12 goats, 52 dogs, nine cats, 77 chickens, 20 ducks, and one New World primate. Conditions ranged from feather loss in chickens, an eroded horn bud in a young Holstein bull, as well as one case of chronic canine bacterial dermatitis.
In other news, CDR Jeffrey Lowell from HHS performed over 50 surgeries aboard the Comfort while in El Salvador and Nicaragua. CAPT Bruce Boynton, the Commander of the Comfort, presented CDR Lowell with a Certificate of Commendation for outstanding service while aboard the ship.
