SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Air Force officials said this week they are continuing efforts to contain an influenza outbreak among trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, where hundreds of recruits have fallen ill over the past several weeks, prompting expanded health measures and renewed vaccination requirements.
The outbreak has affected personnel undergoing Basic Military Training at Lackland, according to statements from the Air Force’s 37th Training Wing and 59th Medical Wing. Officials said medical teams have implemented isolation procedures, antiviral treatment and monitoring of exposed trainees to limit further transmission.
“Medical professionals and Public Health officials have implemented mitigation measures to isolate and treat symptomatic trainees to reduce further exposure and continue to monitor the situation,” an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement released by the service.
The Air Force has not publicly released a comprehensive official case count. However, U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, whose district includes the installation, said the number of confirmed cases had risen from earlier reports of about 160 trainees to more than 220, and later to approximately 275 recruits. Air Force officials have confirmed the existence of the outbreak but have not independently verified all figures cited by Castro.
Several recruits have required hospitalization, according to media reports citing military and congressional sources. Reuters reported that more than 220 recruits had been infected and four had been hospitalized.
The outbreak emerged after the Pentagon changed its influenza vaccination policy in April, making annual flu shots optional for military personnel. Following the outbreak, the Department of Defense authorized exceptions allowing military services to reinstate mandatory influenza vaccinations for certain groups. The Air Force, Army and Navy have since moved to require flu vaccinations for recruits in training environments.
Defense Department officials said the decision was based on force health protection and operational readiness considerations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said exemptions were granted following risk assessments conducted by the services.
The outbreak has also drawn attention from lawmakers. Castro called for additional transparency regarding the scope of the illnesses and the response at the base. Air Force officials have stated that trainees who recover and are medically cleared will return to training.
A separate investigation remains underway into the death of trainee Keon McDaniel following a medical emergency at the installation. Military officials have said it remains unclear whether the death is connected to the influenza outbreak.
As of Thursday, containment measures remained in place at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and military health officials said they continued to monitor affected trainees and potential exposures.
