As the Ebola epidemic in Liberia continues to spread, the Department of Defense extended the speculated time U.S. servicemembers will spend helping in Liberia from six months to one year. They have also increased the number of troops from 3,000 to 4,000, noted Military Times.
While the highly contagious disease has been rampant in West Africa since the summer, measures are being taken to eliminate the risk of American soldiers contracting the virus. Although the troops will be housed in tent cities, their food and water will be tightly monitored. Military Times reported that, as of now, U.S. servicemembers will not be in direct contact with Ebola patients, but will be working to construct health facilities and help existing medical workers. The source noted that U.S. officials are open to changing the roles of these soldiers as the situation evolves.
According to Politico, a select few Americans who are trained in chemical and biological warfare will be interacting with the virus in controlled lab settings. These troops will be in charge of diagnosing patients whose symptoms also resemble malaria or the flu in order to expedite necessary isolation and treatment. The source noted that if a servicemember does contract the disease, he or she will be taken home to be quarantined and treated in an American hospital.