BLITZER: Very disturbing development. We're following a dramatic increase in the number of U.S. troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from last month's Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi base housing American troops. Our Pentagon Correspondent, Barbara Starr, is working the story for us. Barbara, what, 109 troops have now been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. What's going on?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. That's exactly right. One hundred and nine American troops now diagnosed with what is believed to be mild traumatic brain injury following that Iranian missile attack back on January 8, over a month ago, again at the Al Asad base in Iraq where they were serving, 76 have been able, thankfully, to return to duty. The others all in various stages of being treated. This all occurred when the Iranians launched ballistic missiles at the base, sending massive blast waves across the area, even though troops were in bunkers, the blast waves from these heavy ballistic missiles was so significant that basically their brains got jarred and moved around, essentially bruised in a way, and traumatic brain injury resulting. So, now, the question is really what comes next. You know, the symptoms can linger for weeks, if not months. So, they will be under observation, we are told. But what happens if the Iranians or other adversaries were to do this again. Well, the U.S. is trying to get the Iraqis to approve putting Patriot missile batteries into these areas and trying to figure out how to harden these bunkers so when troops are trying to shelter, they may actually have shelter from future missile attacks -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Yes, very disturbing indeed. All right. Barbara at the Pentagon, thank you. Just ahead, the global death toll from the coronavirus virus outbreak tops 1,000. Why some experts say health officials aren't doing enough to halt the spread.
One-Hundred-Plus U.S. Troops Diagnosed With Traumatic Brain Injuries From Iranian Missile Strike