Pentagon To Quarantine Troops Returning From West Africa For 21 Days
27
October, 2014
The
United Nations' Secretary-General stated that returning workers from
Ebola-stricken nations should not be mandatorily
quarantined. President
Obama expressed his displeasure at
mandatory quarantines and "concerns
with the unintended consequences of policies not grounded in
science." So,
the news that "Army
troops returning from Ebola zones will be held in isolation for 21
days," will
likely raise Obama's ire. The somewhat pathetic and stunning spin
here is that Senior
Pentagon officials say it is not a "quarantine," but rather
"controlled monitoring."
- *ARMY TROOPS RETURNING FROM EBOLA ZONES TO BE HELD IN ISOLATION
- *ARMY DECISION GOES BEYOND PENTAGON MONITORING POLICY: WARREN
- *ARMY TROOPS TO BE HELD FOR 21 DAYS AS PRECAUTION, WARREN SAYS
- *ARMY DECISION GOES BEYOND PENTAGON MONITORING POLICY: WARREN
- *A DOZEN ARMY TROOPS NOW ISOLATED AND MONITORED IN VICENZA,ITALY
Army Major General Darryl A. Williams, commander of U.S. Army Africa, and approximately 10 other personnel are now in "controlled monitoring" in Italy after returning there from West Africa over the weekend, according to multiple U.S. military officials.
The American personnel are effectively under quarantine, but Pentagon officials declined to use that terminology.
William's plane was met on the ground by Italian authorities "in full CDC gear," the official said referring to the type of protective equipment warn by U.S. health care workers.
There is no indication at this time any of the team have symptoms of Ebola.
They will be monitored for 21 days at a "separate location" at the U.S. military installation at Vicenza Italy, according to U.S. military officials.
Senior Pentagon officials say it is not a "quarantine," but rather "controlled monitoring." However, the troops are being housed in an access controlled location on base, and are not allowed to go home for the 21 day period while they undergo twice daily temperature checks.
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Officials
could not explain why the group was being put under into controlled
monitoring, which is counter to the Pentagon policy. The
current DOD policy on monitoring returning troops says "as long
as individuals remain asymptomatic, they may return to work and
routine daily activities with family members."
Williams
and his team have been in West Africa for 30 days, to set up the
initial U.S. military assistance there and have traveled extensively
around Liberia. The team was in treatment and testing areas during
their travels.
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