(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Pentagon Sunday announced it is assembling a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the US in response to cases of Ebola.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel "ordered his Northern Command Commander (USNORTHCOM), General Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train" the team, which will be formed from the military services and "consist of 20 critical care nurses, five doctors trained in infectious disease, and five trainers in infectious disease protocols," Pentagon Spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed in a statement.
He added the team "will be sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for up to seven days of specialized training in infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE)," and "training is expected to start within the next week or so and will be provided by the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
"Upon conclusion of training, team members will remain in a 'prepare to deploy' status for 30 days, available to be sent to other CONUS (continental United States) locations as required," Kirby said. "They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals." Kirby noted that Hagel "is committed to ensuring" the Pentagon's readiness to "provide appropriate capabilities, as required, to support our government's response to this deadly disease."
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