Description of a COVID-19 Beta Variant Outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February–March 2021

Luke E. Mease; David H. Yun; Jared Egbert; Ahmad Yassin; Paul Faestel; Stacey Bateman; Cesserie S. Moyer; James Terrio

Description of a COVID-19 Beta Variant Outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February–March 2021

Luke E. Mease, David H. Yun, Jared Egbert, Ahmad Yassin, Paul Faestel, Stacey Bateman, Cesserie S. Moyer, James Terrio

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2-6
Number of pages	5
Journal	Medical Surveillance Monthly Report
Volume	29
Issue number	1
State	Published - Jan 2022
Externally published	Yes

Cite this

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title = "Description of a COVID-19 Beta Variant Outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February–March 2021",

abstract = "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.",

author = "Mease, {Luke E.} and Yun, {David H.} and Jared Egbert and Ahmad Yassin and Paul Faestel and Stacey Bateman and Moyer, {Cesserie S.} and James Terrio",

year = "2022",

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T1 - Description of a COVID-19 Beta Variant Outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February–March 2021

AU - Mease, Luke E.

AU - Yun, David H.

AU - Egbert, Jared

AU - Yassin, Ahmad

AU - Faestel, Paul

AU - Bateman, Stacey

AU - Moyer, Cesserie S.

AU - Terrio, James

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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JF - Medical Surveillance Monthly Report

IS - 1

ER -

Description of a COVID-19 Beta Variant Outbreak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, February–March 2021

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