AMU Homeland Security Opinion

U.S. Military Humanitarian Support Against Ebola in West Africa

By Brett Daniel Shehadey
Special Contributor for In Homeland Security

In West Africa, primarily Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leon, it is reported that 5,000 people have been killed so far and 13,000 are infected with the Ebola virus.

In cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. military, as ordered by the President, is stepping up and joining humanitarian support efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Commanding General of U.S. Army Africa, Major General Darryl Williams set up an advanced assessment detachment in Monrovia, Liberia, mid-September.

The Joint Forces Command conducting Operation United Assistance was transferred to the 101st Airborne Division Commander, Major General Gary Volesky last week (October 27).

“I want to thank my friend, Maj. Gen. [Darryl A.] Williams [U.S. Army Africa commander], and his great Soldiers for all they have done in not only setting the conditions for us to come to Liberia, but more importantly, for the superb work they have done in supporting USAID (U.S. Agency For International Development) and the Government of Liberia in turning the tide on this disease,” said Volesky.

Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said that under General Williams service members under his leadership “have made great advances in establishing command and control capabilities for this effort, including lines of communication over very rough terrain.”

Under General Williams: a 25 bed mobile hospital staffed by Health and Human Services personnel was set up to house Ebola infected care workers in Liberia. Some 2,200 cots, 3 laboratories are up and running as well as 1,500 samples have been taken so far. The turn-around time for detection is 24 hours. Additional treatment centers are planned.

The U.S. Army Sustainment Command is supplying 25 Force Provider Modules and 500 tri-con containers from stocks in Livorno, Italy. These will provide living quarters and life-support for the U.S. service members, including: “climate-controlled billeting, shower, latrine, kitchen, power distribution and even morale, welfare and recreation facilities,” according to ASC Logistics Management Specialist Daniel Thomas.

Currently, there are 700 U.S. service members deployed to West Africa right now; including: about 600 in Liberia and 100 in Senegal. That number is planned to reach up to 4,000 in the coming weeks. Service members are not there to handle the Ebola patients, which will be under the care of civilian specialists. U.S. military personnel are there to provide logistical and engineering support only.

Nevertheless, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Ray Odierno ordered mandatory quarantine protocols for Army personnel that required those returning from West Africa to undergo a 21 day military isolation and observation period. This has since been expanded to a military-wide “enhanced monitoring” under the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Additionally, all civilians are under the CDC and civilian guidelines; however, they will be able to voluntarily submit to more rigorous military protocols if they choose to do so as an added precaution.

Meanwhile, back at the home front, scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), are developing experimental vaccines, with two undergoing human trials after recent FDA approval.

“The vaccines we’ve been working with here all express one particular protein of the virus, and many of these vaccines have been shown to be 100 percent [effective] in nonhuman primates, or monkey studies,” said Dr. John M. Dye, Jr., the viral immunology branch chief.

“This outbreak is [Ebola] Zaire and, honestly, we were lucky it was Zaire,” Dye said, “because we have the most information and the most therapeutic options and the most vaccine work for Zaire. It’s the one we’ve been working on the longest.”

“Pretty much every vaccine that is currently being assessed for FDA approval has been through USAMRIID at one point or another,” Dye said.
In addition to the Ebola Zaire virus, there is also the Sudan virus and Marburg virus in what USARIID is attempting to counter in a trivalent vaccine cocktail.

The success of curing Ebola infected Americans with early treatment has been nothing short of miraculous. We will likely soon have several vaccines to counter any cases at home and provide the most needed cure abroad. until such time, U.S. efforts in West Africa will provide better facilities, screening and boost proper care reaching infected patients sooner.

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