About 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio have been infected with the flu over the past three weeks, with one trainee death under investigation, multiple news outlets report.
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.
But 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.
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.
Symptomatic trainees have been isolated and are receiving antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.
A trainee, Keon McDaniel, who was in his sixth week of basic military training, died June 16 at Brooke Army Medical Center after being transported there on June 12 following a medical emergency.
SEE ALSO: Defense Department discards flu vaccine mandate
The outbreak has sparked political backlash, with Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas Democrat 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.”
The Pentagon told The New York Times that it stands by Mr. Hegseth’s decision.
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