In the earliest formulations of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it was clear that war could engender PTSD within both primary and secondary victims. The clinical course of PTS and PTSD is not always clear, but the disorder may persist months and even years after the precipitating traumatic event. The authors assessed the prevalence of PTSD in a sample of 404 Kuwaiti students (mean age 21.31 yrs) and citizens (27.96 yrs) 4.5 yrs after the invasion and occupation of Kuwait by the Iraqi Army. The data point to a significant public health challenge facing the government of Kuwait (there may exist a virtual epidemic of PTSD within the Kuwaiti population) as well as the increased sensitivity of the young to traumatic stress, both personally and vicariously. The data argue the need for a comprehensive confirmatory epidemiological investigation in the current prevalence of PTSD within the Kuwaiti population so that appropriate resources may be further directed to address what may be a significant public health problem