It was this report which created something of a firestorm on the Internet. In fact, the Russian Vostok Base is the closest base of any kind to the coordinates given in the movie. Then, coincident with that, other reports began to surface of the need for four more medical extractions, in an equally unprecedented fashion, from the coastal base at McMurdo Station, the largest US base on the entire Continent. However, this is extremely unlikely. Precisely because of the isolated population in Antarctica, immigrants are screened for a wide range of diseases before being allowed on the Continent.
Salt is crucial to survival in outdoor conditions in Antarctica.
The air is so dry, that unless someone exposed to the outdoors there has a good supply of salt, they are likely to face the possibility of death by mineral depletion and dehydration. Obviously the Base, after years of operation, would have a pretty good handle on just how much salt is needed until the next re-supply plane arrives. Maybe, because they suddenly had a unique situation. The parallels to us are striking. All of us have been looking to Mars.