The mysterious and bizarre deaths of more than 60 birds, and reports of people being sickened in downtown Austin, Tex., Jan. 8 brought out the Texas National Guard’s 6th Civil Support Team, made up of 22 members of the Texas Air and Army National Guard, to investigate, and assist local authorities in public safety. Team members, using specialized equipment, quickly determined that there was no chemical or other hazardous material in or on the birds. Samples from the dead birds are undergoing further tests at Texas A & M University and a national laboratory in Iowa. Other team members took air samples from roof tops and found nothing hazardous to the public in the atmosphere.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.