The United Nations' Secretary-General stated that returning workers from Ebola-stricken nations should not be mandatorily quarantined. President Obama expressed his displeasure [4] 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
As CNN reports, [5]
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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Here are the Army's official quarantine regulations. [6]
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How are those 3,000 US soldiers in west Africa fighting Ebola?
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) October 23, 2014 [7]
