local
Flu sickens scores of troops at Air Force base after Pentagon ends vaccine requirement
By Courtney Kube and Daniel Arkin | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS)
· June 20, 2026
· 2 min read
U.S. airmen and trainees have fallen ill after a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, according to a spokesperson for the military branch. The number of sickened troops could be over 200, according to a source at the base.
The outbreak comes less than two months after Secretary of...
Key takeaway The number of sickened troops could be over 200, according to a source at the base.
Why this matters in The Trophy Club
The flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base has significant implications for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where the base is located. As a major military training facility, Lackland cycles through tens of thousands of recruits every year, bringing in people from all over the country. This creates a unique challenge for local health officials, who must be prepared to respond to outbreaks like this one. The fact that the Air Force has requested an exemption to the Pentagon's policy and has started vaccinating people at the base suggests that they are taking the situation seriously. The localized nature of the outbreak, confined to the basic training wing, may limit its impact on the broader community, but it still serves as a reminder of the importance of public health measures in densely populated areas like military bases. The situation will likely be closely watched by local health officials.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) . The Trophy Club surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 20, 2026 ·
Source: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? U.S. airmen and trainees have fallen ill after a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, according to a spokesperson for the military branch. The number of sickened troops could be over 200, according to a source at the base.
The outbreak comes less than two months after Secretary of...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 20, 2026 by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) and curated for The Trophy Club readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Courtney Kube and Daniel Arkin | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS). To learn more about how The Trophy Club selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Trophy Club, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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