Pentagon says 109 troops suffered brain injuries from Iran strike
11 February, 2020
The quantity of U.S. service members identified as having traumatic brain injuries has shot up to a lot more than 100, the Pentagon said Monday, as more troops suffer the aftereffects of the Iranian ballistic missile attack early last month in Iraq.
The department said the most recent total is 109 military members who have been treated for mild TBI, a substantial increase over the 64 reported a little over a week ago.
The quantity of injuries has been steadily increasing since the Pentagon commenced releasing data on the injuries about a week after the Jan. 8 attack at al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. Pentagon officials have warned that the quantity would continue to change.
The department said 76 of the service members have returned to duty, while 26 are in Germany or the United States for treatment, and another seven are on their way from Iraq to Germany for evaluation and treatment.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Pentagon reporters greater than a week ago that the department was studying ways to prevent brain injuries on the battlefield and to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it's possible, occasionally, that symptoms of TBI from the Iranian missile attack won't become apparent for a year or two. He said the Army is in the early stages of diagnosis and remedy for the troops.
In a statement Monday, Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah credited medical professionals with provide care "which includes enabled practically 70 percent of those diagnosed to come back to duty. We should continue steadily to address physical and mental health together.”
Source: japantoday.com