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Hegseth faces heat as more than 220 troops contract flu at San Antonio’s Lackland Air Force Base
By Stephanie Koithan at San Antonio Current (alt-weekly)
· June 23, 2026
· 1 min read
More than 220 troops at San Antonio ’s Lackland Air Force Base have contracted influenza, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are assigning blame for the outbreak to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The upsurge in flu cases at the Alamo City site — the nation’s biggest military base by populat...
Key takeaway More than 220 troops at San Antonio’s Lackland Air Force Base have contracted influenza, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are assigning blame for the outbreak to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The outbreak of influenza at Lackland Air Force Base has significant implications for the broader San Antonio community. With 67,000 service members stationed at the base, it is a substantial population center within the city, and the health of its personnel can have a ripple effect on local healthcare resources. As the base is a major economic driver for the area, any disruption to its operations could also impact local businesses that rely on the base's personnel for customers. Furthermore, the base's size and population density make it a unique challenge for public health officials, who must balance the need to contain the outbreak with the need to maintain the base's operational readiness. The city's public health infrastructure will be closely watched as it responds to this outbreak, and local residents will be looking for assurance that the necessary measures are being taken to prevent further spread of the flu.
About this story
Original reporting by San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) . The San Antonio 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 San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? More than 220 troops at San Antonio’s Lackland Air Force Base have contracted influenza, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are assigning blame for the outbreak to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The upsurge in flu cases at the Alamo City site — the nation’s biggest military base by populat...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stephanie Koithan at San Antonio Current (alt-weekly). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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