A flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has sickened over 200 troops, according to a source at the base. The outbreak comes less than two months after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ended the requirement for U.S. troops to receive an annual flu vaccine.

Background on the Outbreak

Lackland is where Air Force enlistees go for basic military training. The base has since started vaccinating people after the outbreak. 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.

Medical personnel are also monitoring trainees who were in close contact with sick members in case they become symptomatic. Symptomatic trainees are receiving the appropriate care with antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.

Pentagon Response

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth granted exemptions to his vaccine policy for all military departments to keep up with critical operational realities. The Secretary of War recently issued updated guidance on the influenza vaccination, stating that this vaccination is voluntary for all Active and Reserve Component Service members and Department of War civilian personnel.

The Department remains committed to the health and readiness of our warfighters and civilian personnel, Parnell added. The Air Force requested an exemption to Hegseth’s policy that allowed them to mandate flu vaccines at the base, according to a second person familiar with the details of the response.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.