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Pentagon plans Ebola domestic-response team of medical experts to aid doctors Pentagon plans Ebola domestic-response team of medical experts to aid doctors
(35 minutes later)
The Pentagon announced Sunday that it would create a 30-person team of medical experts that could quickly leap into a region if Ebola cases emerge, providing support for civilian doctors who might lack proficiency in the deadly virus or other infectious diseases.The Pentagon announced Sunday that it would create a 30-person team of medical experts that could quickly leap into a region if Ebola cases emerge, providing support for civilian doctors who might lack proficiency in the deadly virus or other infectious diseases.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, responding to a request from the Department of Health and Human Services, ordered the Pentagon’s Northern Command, which has a prime focus on protecting homeland security, to compile a team of five doctors, five trainers and 20 nurses to head to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for high-level preparations to respond to any additional Ebola cases beyond the three confirmed in the country.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, responding to a request from the Department of Health and Human Services, ordered the Pentagon’s Northern Command, which has a prime focus on protecting homeland security, to compile a team of five doctors, five trainers and 20 nurses to head to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for high-level preparations to respond to any additional Ebola cases beyond the three confirmed in the country.
The training will begin within the next week, according to Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon’s spokesman. Kirby called the move “an added prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States.”The training will begin within the next week, according to Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon’s spokesman. Kirby called the move “an added prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States.”
As laid out in the Pentagon’s official statement, this team of military medical experts would then be in a “prepare to deploy” status for 30 days, ready to move into any domestic location to assist local doctors if needed. The expeditionary team would not be sent to West Africa, where the virus has spread to thousands of people and more than 4,000 have died.As laid out in the Pentagon’s official statement, this team of military medical experts would then be in a “prepare to deploy” status for 30 days, ready to move into any domestic location to assist local doctors if needed. The expeditionary team would not be sent to West Africa, where the virus has spread to thousands of people and more than 4,000 have died.
The military action came as top U.S. medical officials tried to calm the national fervor over Ebola and also call for more expertise and training to fight a virus that the overwhelming majority of local doctors and hospitals are not prepared to handle.The military action came as top U.S. medical officials tried to calm the national fervor over Ebola and also call for more expertise and training to fight a virus that the overwhelming majority of local doctors and hospitals are not prepared to handle.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared on the Sunday talk shows, noting that there are just four medical facilities — in Maryland, Nebraska, Montana and Georgia — that are equipped to treat Ebola patients.Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared on the Sunday talk shows, noting that there are just four medical facilities — in Maryland, Nebraska, Montana and Georgia — that are equipped to treat Ebola patients.
“We need to have more than just the four in which you have people who are pre-trained so that you don’t come in and that’s the first time that you start thinking about it,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”“We need to have more than just the four in which you have people who are pre-trained so that you don’t come in and that’s the first time that you start thinking about it,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“We may not even need any more, and we hope we don’t,” Fauci added. “In case there are more cases, we want to make sure there are people who are pre-trained, pre-drilled over and over and have the right protocol going.”“We may not even need any more, and we hope we don’t,” Fauci added. “In case there are more cases, we want to make sure there are people who are pre-trained, pre-drilled over and over and have the right protocol going.”
He said that the first Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola, Nina Pham, was “stable and she’s comfortable.” He predicted that she would in the “reasonable future” walk out of the hospital in good health. Many of the dozens of other medical professionals who, like Pham, helped treat Thomas Eric Duncan, the lone person to die in America from Ebola, are approaching their 21-day window of monitoring to see if they can receive an all-clear notice that they have not contracted the virus.He said that the first Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola, Nina Pham, was “stable and she’s comfortable.” He predicted that she would in the “reasonable future” walk out of the hospital in good health. Many of the dozens of other medical professionals who, like Pham, helped treat Thomas Eric Duncan, the lone person to die in America from Ebola, are approaching their 21-day window of monitoring to see if they can receive an all-clear notice that they have not contracted the virus.
Fauci also expanded on the official reasoning for why the Texas hospital was so unprepared for handling Duncan when he arrived there in late September. He said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was operating off protocols from the World Health Organization that were adopted for handling Ebola outbreaks out in the wide-open deserts and rain forests of African nations.
“They did it in the bush. It wasn’t when you were giving people intensive care” in hospitals, he said. “And it became very clear right away that we needed to modify that protocol.”
Some lawmakers continued the call for restricting air travel from West African countries, a suggestion that President Obama has said could make the situation worse.Some lawmakers continued the call for restricting air travel from West African countries, a suggestion that President Obama has said could make the situation worse.
“What we need from members of Congress are constructive proposals based on science and medical expertise, not based on politics,” Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) said on “Meet the Press,” suggesting congressmen were playing into fears about the virus.“What we need from members of Congress are constructive proposals based on science and medical expertise, not based on politics,” Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) said on “Meet the Press,” suggesting congressmen were playing into fears about the virus.
Republicans continued to criticize the selection of Ron Klain, a political operative whose résumé includes stints as chief of staff to Vice Presidents Al Gore and Joe Biden, to coordinate a national Ebola strategy.Republicans continued to criticize the selection of Ron Klain, a political operative whose résumé includes stints as chief of staff to Vice Presidents Al Gore and Joe Biden, to coordinate a national Ebola strategy.
“Mr. Klain is not a doctor, he’s not a health-care professional, he doesn’t have background in these issues,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We don’t need a White House political operative, which is what Mr. Klain has been. What we need is presidential leadership. The person who needs to be on top of this is the president of the United States.”“Mr. Klain is not a doctor, he’s not a health-care professional, he doesn’t have background in these issues,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We don’t need a White House political operative, which is what Mr. Klain has been. What we need is presidential leadership. The person who needs to be on top of this is the president of the United States.”