Description of a COVID-19 Beta variant outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February-March 2021

An outbreak of SARS CoV-2 infection occurred in an infantry battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord following participation in a field training exercise in the vicinity of Yakima, WA in February of 2021. Extreme weather during the exercise disrupted planned COVID-19 mitigation measures and caused 11...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MSMR (U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Executive Communications Division) Executive Communications Division), 2022-01, Vol.29 (1), p.2-6
Main Authors: Mease, Luke, Yun, David, Egbert, Jared, Yassin, Ahmad, Faestel, Paul, Bateman, Stacey, Moyer, Cesserie, Terrio, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Military Personnel
SARS-CoV-2
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Summary:An outbreak of SARS CoV-2 infection occurred in an infantry battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord following participation in a field training exercise in the vicinity of Yakima, WA in February of 2021. Extreme weather during the exercise disrupted planned COVID-19 mitigation measures and caused 110 soldiers to be sheltered in a small aircraft hangar for several nights. The probable index case reported to sick call with symptoms compatible with COVID-19, but the soldier was not diagnosed with COVID-19, was returned to duty, and was allowed to remain in the enclosed hangar for 3 additional days. In total, 143 individuals with epidemiologic ties to the field training exercise tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the outbreak. Nine samples sent for sequencing were determined to be the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant. This report illustrates important lessons learned whose implementation in the future will enable better protection of service members from COVID-19 and similar health risks associated with training.
ISSN:2152-8217