Hagel orders quarantine for US troops returning from W. Africa
Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel on Wednesday ordered a 21-day quarantine for all US troops returning from West Africa, calling it a "prudent" measure to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The move meant the military is adopting much stricter measures than those in place for civilian health workers sent by the US government to Liberia and Senegal, amid an intense debate about how to treat Americans who may have come in contact with the deadly disease. "The secretary believes these initial steps are prudent, given the large number of military personnel transiting from their home base and West Africa, and the unique logistical demands and impact this deployment has on the force," his spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement. The quarantine was introduced even though officials say the soldiers will be focused on building medical clinics or training and will have no contact with those infected with the virus.
