Hagel considering new military-wide Ebola policy

Author: Robert Burns
Published:

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon says the military service chiefs recommended to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that he require all U.S. troops returning from counter-Ebola missions in West Africa be kept in supervised isolation for 21 days.

The Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made the recommendation to Hagel Tuesday. He said Hagel expects to decide the matter soon.

On Monday, the Army chief of staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, directed a 21-day period of isolation for all U.S Army soldiers returning from such missions, starting with a two-star general and 11 staff members who arrived at a base in Vicenza, Italy, after helping coordinate the U.S. response to Ebola in Liberia.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.