{"id":38230,"date":"2019-02-25T18:04:16","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T18:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/25\/strep-outbreak-prompts-antibiotics-for-all-at-fort-benning-basic-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:21:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:21:24","slug":"strep-outbreak-prompts-antibiotics-for-all-at-fort-benning-basic-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/02\/25\/strep-outbreak-prompts-antibiotics-for-all-at-fort-benning-basic-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Strep outbreak prompts antibiotics for all at Fort Benning basic training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A strain of group A streptococcus bacteria<\/a> has caused an outbreak<\/a> affecting six soldiers at Fort Benning<\/a>, Georgia\u2019s one-station unit training, a garrison spokesman confirmed to Army Times on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a precaution, all trainees and cadre are taking a preventative round of antibiotics, Benjamin Garrett said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese particular cases were complications of strep infection and should be characterized as a cluster of cases and not as an epidemic,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An initial group of four soldiers prompted Benning\u2019s Martin Army Community Hospital to screen other soldiers they might have come in contact with beginning Feb. 13, the statement said. That screen found two cases of strep throat on Feb. 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese two peritonsillar abscess cases have been treated and returned to duty and their entire company have been screened,\u201d the statement said. \u201cTrainees testing positive for strep in their company have been treated.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though there have been no new cases since the screening, the statement said, all trainees and cadre will be put on a dose of preventative antibiotics, to stem the spread of any early infections that haven\u2019t been identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\t