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| Some US troops battling Ebola in Africa will assist in testing samples | |
| (2 days later) | |
| A handful of highly trained American troops will have direct contact with potential Ebola patients in west Africa, thehead of the US Africa command said during a Pentagon briefing on the military’s response to the Ebola outbreak. But a few hours later, the general issued a correction, saying that the troops would only work with Ebola samples. | |
| The confusion highlighted the sensitivities surrounding the deployment of up to 4,00 troops to the region. The Obama administration has repeatedly insisted they would have no direct contact with Ebola patients. | |
| General David Rodriguez, commander of US Africa command, said on Tuesday that a small contingent of soldiers will be involved with testing the blood of people who display symptoms associated with Ebola. They will help run testing labs to distinguish those stricken with Ebola from those suffering from flu or malaria, he said. | |
| “[The soldiers] can operate in a nuclear, biological and chemical environment,” Rodriguez said. “They’re specifically trained to do that and that’s their primary skill set.” Three to four specially trained personnel, dressed in full protective gear, will be stationed at as many as seven testing labs, he said. | “[The soldiers] can operate in a nuclear, biological and chemical environment,” Rodriguez said. “They’re specifically trained to do that and that’s their primary skill set.” Three to four specially trained personnel, dressed in full protective gear, will be stationed at as many as seven testing labs, he said. |
| He later issued a statement clarifying that these troops would not have direct contact with patients. “In response to comments I made today about U.S. military personnel potentially coming in direct contact with Ebola infected individuals, specific to lab testing, I want to clarify my remarks. US military personnel working in the labs are not interacting with patients, only samples,” he said. | |
| US soldiers will assist the local authorities by providing “command and control” operations, logistical expertise, medical training and engineering support, as part of a broader response by the US government to stop the epidemic. | US soldiers will assist the local authorities by providing “command and control” operations, logistical expertise, medical training and engineering support, as part of a broader response by the US government to stop the epidemic. |
| The Defense Department has tapped 3,200 troops to deploy by late October to Liberia, where they will help build and staff 17 100-bed Ebola treatment units across the country. The US mission also includes setting up and operating Ebola testing labs in the region, two of which opened recently in Liberia. The New York Times last week detailed significant logistical delays in the US military’s aid effort. | The Defense Department has tapped 3,200 troops to deploy by late October to Liberia, where they will help build and staff 17 100-bed Ebola treatment units across the country. The US mission also includes setting up and operating Ebola testing labs in the region, two of which opened recently in Liberia. The New York Times last week detailed significant logistical delays in the US military’s aid effort. |
| The administration says the new facilities have doubled the lab capacity in Liberia and slashed the time it takes to get results from several days to a few hours. | The administration says the new facilities have doubled the lab capacity in Liberia and slashed the time it takes to get results from several days to a few hours. |
| Rodriguez estimated the US mission in Liberia, which he said could take a year, will cost roughly $750m over six months. A fact sheet issued by the White House said that the DoD is prepared to spend more than $1bn on the country’s response efforts. | Rodriguez estimated the US mission in Liberia, which he said could take a year, will cost roughly $750m over six months. A fact sheet issued by the White House said that the DoD is prepared to spend more than $1bn on the country’s response efforts. |
| Rodriguez stressed that all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the deployed troops, as well as to prevent the disease from being brought back to the US with the soldiers. | Rodriguez stressed that all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the deployed troops, as well as to prevent the disease from being brought back to the US with the soldiers. |
| “I am confident we can ensure our service members’ safety and the safety of the American people,” he said, adding that any soldier who is exposed to Ebola will be flown back to the US for treatment. | “I am confident we can ensure our service members’ safety and the safety of the American people,” he said, adding that any soldier who is exposed to Ebola will be flown back to the US for treatment. |
| • The headline and text of this article were updated on 9 October to include Gen Rodriguez’s clarification. |