Coronavirus: US Evacuates 3 Infected Military Personnel From Afghanistan

The United States Air Force evacuated three U.S. government contractors infected with coronavirus, from Afghanistan to Germany, Friday, April 10.

Air Mobility Command aircrew and medical personnel conducted the first operational use of the Transport Isolation System (TIS) to perform an aeromedical evacuation of three U.S. government contractors who tested positive for coronavirus, from Afghanistan to Ramstein Air Base. Upon arrival at Ramstein, the patients were transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

The mission marked the first operational use of the TIS since its development during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and the first movement of COVID-19 positive patients aboard U.S. Air Force aircraft.

The TIS is an infectious disease containment unit designed to minimize risk to aircrew, medical attendants, and the airframe, while allowing medical care to be provided to patients in-flight.

As of Friday, 3,054 coronavirus cases around the globe were related to the U.S. military — 2,031 service members, 493 civilians, 325 dependents and 205 contractors — the Pentagon said. There have been 13 DOD-related COVID-19 deaths, including one service member.

(AF.MIL/AFP/VOA)