Overview
- The Air Force confirmed a localized influenza outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland that has produced about 159 reported cases among Basic Military Training recruits and two hospitalizations over the last three weeks.
- Vaccination uptake at the San Antonio training hub fell to roughly 40 percent after the Pentagon ended the universal flu-shot requirement on April 21, a sharp drop from previously near-universal coverage.
- Medical teams at the 37th Training Wing and the 59th Medical Wing are isolating symptomatic trainees, monitoring close contacts, and treating patients with antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
- A trainee, Keon McDaniel, suffered a medical emergency and died on Monday, June 16, and the Air Force is conducting a comprehensive medical review to determine whether the death is related to the outbreak.
- The Pentagon has authorized service-specific exceptions to the optional-vaccine policy and lawmakers and public-health officials are pressing for a full accounting as the incident raises questions about readiness in congregate training settings.