POSTED: 10:57 a.m. EST December 18, 2002
UPDATED: 3:34 p.m. EST December 18, 2002
SAN DEIGO -- Physical training at
the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego likely will resume Thursday
after being halted because of an outbreak of streptococcus A, officials
said.
Maj. Gen. Jan Huly, commander of the base, told reporters Tuesday that
the outbreak is under control.
However, wenty-two people remain hospitalized in connection with the
outbreak, although tests haven't confirmed that all of them suffer from
strep A infections, said Maj. Kim Miller.
Among them, a recruit remains in critical condition with strep A
pneumonia, Miller said. A drill instructor also is among those still
hospitalized, she said.
As for the 72-hour physical training stand down initiated on Monday,
officials will re-evaluate the situation Wednesday to decide whether it
should end as scheduled Thursday, said Lt. Mike Friel.
The break in strenuous activities was meant to let recruits rest and
avoid becoming sick from the strep A bacteria, which was discovered in 185
Marines tested on Sunday.
Since the outbreak began at the base last week, 126 people have been
hospitalized.
Huly said that the cases of upper respiratory ailments requiring
hospitalization in recent days weren't "necessarily related to the strep A
bacteria."
On Sunday, a recruit died after being hospitalized at the Naval Medical
Center San Diego when a rash on his ankle spread to much of his body.
Huly said there were no indications that the death of Pvt. Miguel Zavala,
of Greenfield, Calif., was related to a flesh-eating bacteria that can
result from strep A in extreme cases.
"His death does appear to be linked to either the strep A or
meningococcal bacteria," Huly said Tuesday.
Step is a common bacteria people carry in their throat, though most don't
become sick. A sore throat is the most common, but more serious infections
also can result, health officials said.
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