About 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks, including one trainee’s death that is still under investigation, multiple news outlets report.
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Because of the outbreak, the Air Force received an exception to the new voluntary vaccine policy and now requires flu shots for recruits at Lackland. Symptomatic trainees have been isolated and are receiving antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.
The outbreak comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
The 37th Training Wing at Lackland—the largest training wing in the Air Force, responsible for basic military training of all enlisted Air Force, Space Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard recruits—has been managing the localized outbreak.
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A trainee, Keon McDaniel, who was in his sixth week of basic military training, died on June 16 at Brooke Army Medical Center after being transported there on June 12 following a medical emergency.
The outbreak has sparked political backlash, with Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro calling Mr. Hegseth’s decision to end the vaccine mandate “a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness.”
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SEE ALSO: Defense Department discards flu vaccine mandate
The Pentagon told The New York Times that it stands by Mr. Hegseth’s decision.
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