US to deploy National Guard to help fight Ebola in West Africa
President Barack Obama has authorized the Pentagon to deploy National Guard
and reserve forces to West Africa
Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:34AM GMT
President Barack Obama has authorized the Pentagon to deploy National Guard
and reserve forces to West Africa in what the US claims to be an effort to
help combat the spread of Ebola.
The National Guard would augment the active armed forces of the United
States for the effective conduct of Operation United Assistance, which is
providing support to civilian-led humanitarian assistance and consequence
management support related to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West
Africa, Obama told House and Senate leaders in a letter.
The authorities that have been invoked will ensure the Department of
Defense can properly sustain the military operations required in this
effort, read the letter.
Under the presidents order, over 4,000 American troops could deploy to West
Africa to help combat the Ebola viral disease there, Pentagon press
secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said Thursday.
The troops are mandated to help construct and support Ebola treatment units,
run mobile testing labs and train health care workers. There are now more
than 500 active US troops in Liberia and Senegal.
The Pentagon has ruled out any direct contact of the troops with patients
infected with the virus. It, however, acknowledged that a number of medical
specialists were testing blood samples at several mobile testing labs.
The current US military commander in Liberia, Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams,
said only specially-trained troops were coming in direct contact with the
virus.
Otherwise, American troops have not been ordered to deal with the Ebola
virus or patients infected with the virus, he added.
The Pentagon estimates that operations in West Africa could last a year or
more.
With no proven treatment and no vaccine, the Ebola epidemic could affect
5,000 to 10,000 new people per week, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
The global death toll is surpassing 4,500 from nearly 9,000 recorded
infection cases, the WHO said Thursday. The three hardest-hit countries are
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
SB/HRJ
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
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katika machafuko"
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