Health

(DETROIT) — Cases of a parasitic infection are continuing to rise in at least two states, local health officials said.

As of July 6, nearly 700 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection, were confirmed, an official from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) told ABC News on Monday. This is an increase from the roughly 300 cases reported on Thursday.

The 678 cases have predominantly been confirmed the southeast region of Michigan including Wayne County, where Detroit is located.

Typically, the state has 50 cases per year, meaning cases are currently about 13.5 times higher than on average.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, an infectious disease physician, epidemiologist and the chief medical executive for the state of Michigan, described the 678 figure as a “moving target,” meaning that cases are likely to continue rising.

“There is a significant lag time between exposure to contaminated produce or contaminated materials and development of symptoms,” she told ABC News. “So it can take a week, sometimes even two weeks between exposure and development of symptoms.”

She added that there may be some infected individuals who are only now reading news reports and getting tested, so there may be even more delayed diagnoses.

Additionally, in Ohio, there were 177 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 2, Ken Gordon, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Health’s communications office, confirmed to ABC News.

Cases have been confirmed across 43 counties in Ohio so far this year, according to Gordon. Most of those cases — 171 — were reported since June 20.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 145 cases have been detected in 17 states since May 1, excluding Michigan, as of June 16, with at least 20 people hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The CDC said cases ranged between age 5 and 86, with a median age of 42, and 61% were female.

So far, no cases have been linked between states and health officials are still investigating if there is a common source of the outbreak in Michigan.

The parasite usually spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.

Foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro, according to the CDC. The agency further said it takes about one week from the time of infection to become symptomatic, but that time can range from two days to two weeks.

Bagdasarian said MDHHS’s working hypothesis is that the outbreak is linked to contaminated produce, but it’s unclear which produce, how long it has been on the shelf or where it’s been distributed.

“We are making sure that we’re issuing guidance to the public as well as to restaurants and commercial kitchens so that folks know the safest way to eat produce right now,” she said. “If folks are making the switch and consuming all of these products as safely as possible, that could mean that we are still seeing cases where people were exposed.”

Some patients do not experience any symptoms but, for those who do, the most common symptom is “explosive watery diarrhea,” doctors previously told ABC News. Other symptoms can include cramping, bloating, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting, the doctors said.

Since cyclosporiasis symptoms can resemble other illnesses, it may be hard for a patient to determine what they are infected with.

While a traditional stomach bug will have symptoms that typically disappear within 24 to 48 hours, cyclosporiasis symptoms may last for days or even weeks, Bagdasarian noted.

“If you believe that you could have cyclosporiasis, it’s really important to see your healthcare provider and to mention cyclosporiasis, just in case they haven’t heard about this outbreak happening right now, and ask for stool testing, because not all stool testing routinely will include cyclosporiasis,” she said.

The CDC said the infection is very unlikely to spread from person to person because it takes at least one to two weeks outside the body for the parasite to become infectious after someone passes a bowel movement.

Local and federal authorities are working to find the cause of cases in various states and to see if there are any connections. So far none have been identified.

Cyclosporiasis is treated with the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim, taken for 10 days, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends that people can prevent infection by thoroughly washing produce, cutting away bruised or damaged parts of fruits and vegetables and refrigerating pre-prepared or pre-cut produce.

“Grabbing a scrub brush can also be helpful,” Dr. Darien Sutton, an emergency medicine physician and ABC News medical correspondent, said on “Good Morning America Weekend” on Sunday. “And an important note here, this type of parasite doesn’t easily go away with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. So, good old handwashing is really key here.”

ABC News’ Megan Fahrney contributed to this report.

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(MICHIGAN) — A “large and growing” outbreak of a parasitic infection is spreading in Michigan, health officials warned this week.

As of Thursday, more than 300 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection, have been confirmed, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) told ABC News. Typically, the state only sees about 50 cases per year, according to MDHHS.

The parasite usually spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We are working closely with our state and local partners to identify the source of this outbreak that is making so many people ill as quickly as possible,” Lynn Sutfin, public information officer for MDHHS, told ABC News.

The outbreak comes as the CDC reports 145 cases have been infected in 17 states, excluding Michigan, as of June 15, with at least 20 people hospitalized.

The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, state and local authorities are investigating several clusters of cyclosporiasis cases in multiple states.

Doctors told ABC News that cases usually start in May, so the Michigan outbreak occurred during the time or year when public health specialists typically would see a rise in cases. However, the number of cases in Michigan is particularly high, doctors said.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist and associate dean for regional campuses at the University of California, San Francisco, told ABC News that in years past, the U.S. used to see many cases cyclosporiasis acquired outside of the U.S, or from imported vegetables and fruits.

“But now we’re starting to have more domestic cases as well,” Chin-Hong said.

Foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro, according to the CDC. The agency further said it takes about one week from the time of infection to become symptomatic, but that time can range from two days to two weeks.

Some patients do not experience any symptoms but, for those who do, the most common symptom is “explosive watery diarrhea,” Dr. Zoe Weiss, director of clinical microbiology at Tufts Medical Center, told ABC News.

Other symptoms can include cramping, bloating, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting, Weiss said.

“Though in most cases this illness causes discomfort from cramping, bloating and watery diarrhea, we are concerned about individuals who may be immunocompromised due to cancer treatment or an organ transplant as the effects may be more severe,” Sutfin from MDHHS said.

Weiss said the infection is very unlikely to spread from person-to-person “because the parasite is passed in the stool, and then it requires days to weeks of formulation in the environment before it can become infectious.”

Chin-Hong said that oftentimes people dismiss watery diarrhea, but it is important to get a diagnosis to get treatment as soon as possible.

Cyclosporiasis is treated with the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim, taken for 10 days, according to the CDC.

Doctors told ABC News that people can prevent infection by thoroughly washing produce, cutting away bruised or damaged parts of fruits and vegetables, and refrigerating pre-prepared or pre-cut produce.

“If you’re in an area that’s been affected and you have sudden ongoing watery diarrhea, you should definitely seek a physician and get treatment,” Weiss said.

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(GENEVA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship is over.

It came after the final contact of a person exposed to the virus on the cruise ship completed their quarantine period, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The recommended quarantine and monitoring period for hantavirus exposure is 42 days.

The individual tested negative and returned home. No further cases have been reported since May 25, Tedros said during a media briefing.

As of Thursday, there have been a total of 13 cases of hantavirus — 12 confirmed and one probable — and three deaths, of which at least two have been confirmed, according to the WHO. All cases have been passengers or crew members on the ship.

Tedros said more than 650 contacts were identified and followed up by health authorities in 33 countries and territories. 

“Although the outbreak is over, WHO will continue working with governments and partners to advance our understanding of this outbreak and of hantavirus more generally,” Tedros said. “We are also coordinating a study involving 21 countries to understand how the disease develops, which will support the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for future outbreaks.”

Last week, quarantine ended for the 18 Americans who were cruise ship passengers on the MV Hondius and exposed to hantavirus.

The WHO said it received notification on May 2 of a cluster of “severe acute respiratory illness” aboard the MV Hondius, including two deaths and one critically ill passenger

The working hypothesis behind the cluster is that the first case was infected with hantavirus while on land, before boarding the cruise ship, according to the WHO.

At least 11 confirmed cases tested positive for Andes virus, a rare strain of hantavirus, and the only one that is known to transmit between people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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(NEW YORK) — A record number of West Nile virus cases have been recorded for this time of year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend.

At least 48 cases of West Nile have been reported so far this year compared to an average of 10 typically by the end of June. This is the highest number of infections reported at this point in year since 2004, according to the federal health agency.

Additionally, at least 23 states are reporting West Nile activity, which is the highest number recorded over the last 10 years, CDC data shows.

The illness is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contagious U.S., with several thousand cases and over 100 deaths reported on average each year.

With millions gathering outside for Fourth of July, the CDC is urging Americans to take precautions and reduce their risk of mosquito bites.

Since 1999, the disease has killed more than 3,300 Americans. Cases have historically peaked in August and are mostly reported from June through October.

While many people infected do not develop symptoms, about one in five do. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.  Most symptoms soon disappear, though weakness and fatigue may last for weeks or months.

Fewer than 1% of people infected develop severe illness that affects the central nervous system, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), the CDC says.

Risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death increase with older age; certain medical conditions including cancer, high blood pressure and kidney disease; and a weakened immune system.

There are currently no vaccines for West Nile virus, nor disease-specific treatments. The CDC recommends rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications to treat the infection. Those with severe illness may need to be hospitalized and receive additional support treatments, such as intravenous fluids.

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(NEW YORK) — For the first time, Medicare will cover GLP-1s for obesity-related weight loss, without any other medical conditions.

Starting Wednesday, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can receive GLP-1s for obesity for $50 per month by prescription. Medicare is the primary federal health insurance program in the U.S. for individuals 65 and older.

Federal rules ban Medicare Part D — which helps cover prescription drug costs — from covering drugs solely to treat obesity, but a new federal pilot bridge program approved by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2027.

This move could dramatically expand access to Eli Lilly’s Foundayo and Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy for seniors 65 and older as well as other eligible Medicare enrollees.

Foundayo and Wegovy Pill are daily tablets. Wegovy and Zepbound are weekly injections that require refrigeration.

A month supply of Wegovy will come in four pre-filled pens while Zepbound will be delivered in a KwikPen, which holds four weekly doses in a single device.

Single-dose Zepbound pens and Zepbound vials will not be covered by the bridge program.

“These treatments are a major medical advancement, but too many seniors are currently unable to access them due to high cost,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, said in a statement last month. “The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge changes that by making these medications more affordable and accessible, while advancing our broader goal of helping Americans live healthier lives.”

An estimated 3.8 million beneficiaries could be eligible for the program, according to a KFF analysis of 2023 Part D enrollment data that was published Monday.

The government negotiated with the manufacturers to reduce the price the government will pay to $250 for a month’s supply and in return the companies will have access to the larger patient population. Each patient will pay a $50 copay towards the cost of the medication, but that co-pay will not go toward an individual’s annual deductible.

Patients will first need prior authorization — prescribing clinicians will submit documentation proving the patient meets strict body mass index (BMI) and health condition requirements. That means patients will need to wait for the prescription to be approved before it can be filled.

Patients must have Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or higher. If their BMI is 30-35, they must have certain types of heart failure, hard to control blood or chronic kidney disease.

If their BMI is 27-30, they must have prediabetes, history of heart attack or stroke or blocked arteries in the arms or legs.

These requirements are more restrictive than the FDA approval language or what private insurance companies require, which is a BMI of 30 or over.

Patients must also not have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease because their Medicare plan may already cover GLP-1s.

“GLP-1s can be life-changing for patients managing obesity and related conditions,” Chris Klomp, director of Medicare and chief counselor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement last month.

“This demonstration is designed to make accessing those medications simpler, more predictable, and more consistent across the Medicare program, which means better quality of life for seniors and better value across the health care system,” the statement continued.

​Individuals will be able to fill their pre-approved prescriptions at local retail pharmacies and directly through Novo Nordisk or Ely Lilly’s direct to consumer mail order pharmacies.  

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(WASHINGTON) — Millions of Americans have dropped health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to new data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The report, which was published on Friday, showed that about 19.2 million people were enrolled under the ACA in the first two months of 2026, down by about 3 million people compared to the same time last year.

HHS attributed the lower number of enrollees to its efforts to crack down on fraud.

The report claimed the administration stopped “1.5 million enrollees from receiving subsidies they did not qualify for and ended or blocked another 1.4 million through February 2026, for a total of 2.9 million people who had previously been improperly receiving subsidies they did not qualify for.”

However, the decrease in enrollees comes amid rising costs and a pause of the enhanced premium tax credits.

The enhanced premium tax credits, also known as ACA subsidies, help lower or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of monthly premiums for those who purchase insurance through the health insurance marketplace.

The subsidies were part of the original ACA passed during the Obama administration. The amount of financial assistance was increased along with eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidies expired at the end of 2025.

In October and November, the subsidies became a sticking point during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

Republicans said the expansions from the pandemic era went too far and tried to persuade Democrats to fund a temporary spending bill that didn’t address the expiring ACA subsidies, with promises of discussing ways to continue the subsidies later.

Meanwhile, Democrats insisted on extending the premium tax credits as part of a bill to end the shutdown, warning that their expiration could be detrimental for millions of American families.

In January, the House passed a three-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credits, but the measure is now stalled in the Senate.

Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office have suggested that gross benchmark premiums — the price of a standard plan before government subsidies are applied — could increase by 4.3% in 2026 and by 7.7% in 2027 without an extension.

An April report from the actuarial firm Wakely Consulting Group found more than one in 10 ACA enrollees did not pay their health insurance premiums at the beginning of the year. Data also showed “extensive buy downs,” with enrollees moving to lower-tier or cheaper plans.

The nonprofit KFF found that premium payments from enrollees increased by an average of 58% from $113 to $178 per month, including among those who did not receive the enhanced premium tax credits.

Emma Wager, senior policy analyst for the program on the ACA at KFF, said there is fraud in the ACA marketplace, but the scale described by the federal government may be exaggerated.

“I think when you look at what the federal government has said about this drop, they refer to it as being the result of a crackdown on fraud and fraudulent enrollment,” Wager told ABC News. “Given the data that we have, it’s really not possible to determine how much of the drop in enrollment is related to fraud versus people voluntarily dropping coverage.”

She noted that we know premiums rose “significantly” from last year to this one.

“So many people really couldn’t find coverage that was affordable for their families and they were faced with that difficult choice,” she continued. “People faced double-digit, triple-digit increases in their premiums between 2025 and 2026.”

Insurance companies previously told ABC News that plan rates are rising, even without the tax credits, due to “higher utilization and more complex care among ACA members — particularly in emergency room visits, behavioral health and specialty pharmacy. For instance, ACA members use the ER at nearly twice the rate of those with employer-sponsored coverage.”

Wager said those who choose to drop coverage, or those who are uninsured, are at risk of massive financial problems if they become sick, injured or need health care.

“That’s obviously something none of us can control,” she said. “So if you suddenly have a hospitalization or an illness that costs you thousands and thousands of dollars and you don’t have any form of coverage whatsoever, you can face bankruptcy, you can face the loss of your savings. It’s a very large financial risk.“

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(NEW YORK) — Cervical cancer deaths are 49% higher for women living in poverty, a major report released on Thursday finds.

Women living in poverty were also 23% more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to those living in higher-income areas, according to the report from the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR).

“The disparities in this situation arise from an access to care issue,” Dr. Paul DiSilvestro, division director of gynecologic oncology at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, who was not involved in the report, told ABC News.

“I think we often don’t understand the pressure on women as it relates to screening. Sometimes you have to make a choice between going to work, caring for your children, putting food on the table and getting a screening test,” he added.

Cervical cancer is typically caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). The disease is now largely preventable thanks to the introduction of the HPV vaccine nearly two decades ago. Studies show the vaccine has drastically reduced mortality rates from cervical cancer.

If cervical cancer is caught early, it is usually easier to treat, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, not all women are able to get vaccinated as a teenager or get regular screenings in adulthood.

Some public health specialists say that new data suggests stark racial disparities appear to be easing, although there is still a long way to go.

In 2000, Hispanic women were 70% more likely to die of cervical cancer compared to white women, according to the AACR report. By 2024, Hispanic women were 10% more likely to die of cervical cancer, the report found.

Efforts and strategies to decrease these disparity gaps have been in effect nationally. The AACR reports that cervical screening increased by 62% after incorporation of patient navigation services.

A study in the AACR summary combined data from 20 trials done across the country, which included information about services including transportation assistance, interpreter services, home visits, patient education, scheduling assistance and individualized financial support.

It found that lay Hispanic/Latino community members who receive specialized training to provide basic health education in the community, known as promotoras, played key roles — alongside social workers, telephone counselors and social workers — in delivering these services.

Policy changes, such as Medicaid expansion, have also produced measurable increases in screening uptake among previously uninsured populations, according to the study.

Despite these efforts, patients living in poorer counties are still experiencing worse outcomes, DiSilvestro said.

“We need to do a better job of delivering the screening to the community as opposed to expecting the community to present itself to us for the screening,” he said.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends two doses of the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12, a shot that has proven to prevent up to 90% of cervical cancer cases.

The CDC also recommends that screening pap smears start at age 21. Pap smears look for cell changes on the cervix that could develop into cervical cancer.

“I think we can’t forget that in this situation, cervical cancer screening works,” DiSilvestro said. “But it only works if we can provide it to the people.”

Areta Bojko, MD is a board-certified OBGYN and gynecologic oncology fellow at Women and Infants Hospital and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. 

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(NEW YORK) — Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has halted construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base after being found in contempt of court for allowing work to continue despite a court order.

Duale appeared before the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday and said he directed “the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparations or related activities” concerning the facilitly.

“It was never the intention of the ministry or myself as the Cabinet Secretary to disregard, undermine, or act in defiance of the orders,” he said.

Duale also told the court he would be “the last person to disregard a court order” and “the last person to violate any constitutional order given by any court.”

The court accepted Duale’s apology and discharged him with a warning, saying that he would face sentencing if there was any indication he disobeyed its orders again. The injunction stopping construction was extended until a hearing on July 23.

“Today was an important moment for justice in Kenya,” Nora Mbagathi, executive director of Kenya’s Katiba Institute, an organization formed to support the country’s constitution that challenged the U.S. plan, told ABC News in a WhatsApp message.

“By appearing in court and confirming that construction of the quarantine facility has been halted, Duale has affirmed the government’s recognition that they are not above the Constitution,” the message continued. “His apology to the Court and the people of Kenya is an important moment not just for our courts but for our democracy and rule of law.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) — The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,000 Ebola cases as the country’s deadly outbreak continues.

The DRC Ministry of Health reported 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 confirmed deaths as of Sunday evening. There are 365 patients either hospitalized or in isolation, according to the ministry.

Contact tracing remains a concern, officials said. The Ministry of Health said only 58% of identified contacts have been followed up with, far below the desired 90% to 95% target needed to contain the outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Bonheur Baeni, project manager for the Ebola emergency for the humanitarian NGO CARE, told ABC News that there has been a great amount of misinformation in affected communities that has made it difficult to contain the virus.

“It is in fact among the great challenges, the misinformation that is characterized by rumors, rumors that circulate on social networks, rumors that also circulate mouth-to-mouth,” he told ABC News in French. “It really makes the population resistant.”

Baeni said the group is working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to engage with the community and answer questions that people have. They are also working with trusted leaders within the community to help combat the misinformation.

“You see that it creates a climate of trust,” Baeni said. “It creates a confidence climate because it’s their brother, it’s a member of the community.”

The Ministry of Health wrote on X that “response teams continue active investigations, epidemiological surveillance, and prevention actions in affected areas.”

Health officials added that eight more people have recovered from Ebola, bringing the total number of recoveries to 100.

Meanwhile, UNICEF warned on Monday that an estimated 2.95 million children and adolescents aged 18 and under — representing 54% of the population in 31 affected health zones — are at risk from Ebola and the breakdown of essential services in the eastern DRC.

“Our teams in Ituri [province] have met children who have lost their mothers, and in some cases both parents, to Ebola,” Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director, said in a statement. “Children are trying to make sense of the threat while surrounded by rumors and online misinformation.”

UNICEF said children and adolescents make up about 15% of confirmed Ebola cases and more than 25% of confirmed deaths in the eastern DRC as of June 19, and that children and adolescents with confirmed Ebola are almost twice as likely to die as adults

In Ituri province, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, dozens of children have been orphaned, according to UNICEF. The agency said that 135 of those children are receiving support, including psychosocial care.

In neighboring Uganda, there are at least 20 confirmed cases, in large part linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC, and two deaths, according to UNICEF. The agency said children have also been affected in Uganda, with at least one child who has tested positive and 19 children under quarantine monitoring.

“Children are especially vulnerable because they depend on caregivers and cannot distance themselves from a sick parent or sibling in the same way that an adult can,” Russell said. “To better protect children, we need sustained access, and the resources needed to reach every affected community.”

ABC News’ Dada Jovanovic and Zoe Magee contributed to this report.

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(SAN ANTONIO) — The basic training facility for the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, is experiencing a flu outbreak following the end of mandatory vaccination for all service members.

As of Wednesday, there are at least 159 known cases among recruits and two hospitalizations at Joint Base San Antonio, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. One source told ABC News the number of cases and hospitalizations may be higher.

The outbreak comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in April that the annual flu vaccine would be optional for all U.S. military personnel, both active and reserve.  

Previously, the flu vaccine was mandatory, but the new policy is in line with a previous change of making the COVID-19 vaccine optional.

The Pentagon has granted the military services exceptions to the policy, so the flu vaccine can be required in certain cases.

An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the outbreak to ABC News and said in a statement that over the last three weeks there has been a “localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training.”

“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,” the statement read. “Medical personnel are also monitoring trainees who were in close contact with sick members in case they become symptomatic.”

The spokesperson said symptomatic trainees are receiving “the appropriate care” including antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.

“Once they are cleared by medical professionals they will return to training,” the statement said.

Earlier this year, when Hegseth ended mandatory vaccination, he referred to the policy as “overly broad and not rational.”

“Our new policy is simple: If you, an American warrior entrusted to defend this nation, believe that the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you are free to take it; you should. But we will not force you,” Hegseth said.

The sources told ABC News that there is 40% flu vaccination rate among recruits at the San Antonio base since the mandate was lifted. Previously, the rate was nearly 100%.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told ABC News that the Defense Department recently granted exceptions to the policy for the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Security Agency (NSA) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

“The decisions were based upon thorough risk assessments and are designed to maximize operational readiness, lethality, and force generation, while safeguarding at-risk populations,” Parnell said. “The Army, Navy, Air Force, NSA, and DHA are responsible for implementing the [exceptions to the policy]. The Department remains committed to the health and readiness of our warfighters and civilian personnel.”

The annual flu vaccine is currently recommended to everyone over 6 months old between September and the start of November. Although the typical flu season ends by February or March, people can become infected at any time.

People who travel internationally or live in group settings are at higher risk of transmitting and acquiring infectious diseases.

Public health specialists have warned that military members may suffer unnecessary complications from the flu after the vaccination mandate was ended and fear that severe cases will continue to climb in subsequent flu seasons if preventive vaccinations aren’t given to those most at risk.

Evidence has shown that young recruits are much more vulnerable to severe infection from influenza compared to other service members, though lower than the general population due to the military having historically high immunization rates.

A study published last year by the Defense Health Agency found that from the 2010-2011 to the 2023-2024 flu seasons, the highest rate of influenza hospitalizations among active service members were among those under the age of 25, especially young recruits.

The flu vaccine has been required for the military since 1945, at the end of World War II, partly tied to the threat of biological warfare use by rival nations and as well as the devastation that the flu pandemic of 1918-1920 wreaked on U.S. troops, according to a 2022 analysis from Wright State University in Ohio and the U.S. Air Force.

It’s estimated that between 20% and 40% of Army and Navy personnel fell ill, with more than 26,000 deaths among U.S. soldiers during the 1918-1920 flu pandemic.

After researchers noticed the effectiveness of the vaccine fading, the mandate was withdrawn in 1949. This was later found to be caused by abrupt and major changes to the flu virus — and the mandate was reinstated in the early 1950s after the changes became “clearer and combatable,” according to the analysis.

Compliance among military health care personnel has exceeded 95% in past years, compared to less than 75% among civilian health care personnel.

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