Army Col. Robert DeFraites briefs reporters in the Pentagon on Aug. 5, 2003, on some aspects concerning the approximately 100 cases of pneumonia that have been diagnosed among U.S. troops serving in the Central Command area of operations. DeFraites reported that while the frequency of occurrence of pneumonia is about what you would expect in the general population, the military is moving rapidly to determine if there was any common thread in the reported cases. The Army surgeon general has activated two Epidemiological Consultation teams to assist local medical staffs in investigating the causes of the 15 most serious cases. DeFraites is attached to the Office of the Army Surgeon General.