An United States-based emergency Ebola response team is being prepped, the Department of Defense said Sunday.
In response to a request by the Department of Health and Human Services, a 30-person team will be ready to “response quickly, effectively, and safely” should more Ebola cases arise inside the U.S., according to a Pentagon press release.
“Secretary [Chuck] Hagel today ordered his Northern Command Commander, Gen. Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said in statement.
The team of 20 critical care nurses, five doctors trained in infectious disease and five trainers in infectious disease protocols will be sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for up to seven days of training provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Once training is completed, the team will remain in a “prepare to deploy” status for up to 30 days, according to the Defense Department.
The team will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas, as it is meant only to deal with domestic Ebola-related issues.
“As always, their safety and security will remain foremost on his mind,” Kirby said of Hagel.
