U.S. DOD Creates Ebola Medical Quick Response Team

In response to the concerns regarding potential Ebola epidemics in the U.S., Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the creation of a medical response team. The military has already been utilized to aid in foreign Ebola outbreaks, and will now be readied for potential domestic efforts.   The Quick Response Team will consist of 30 members and be led by Northern Command Commander General Chuck Jacoby. In addition to 20 critical care nurses, there will be 5 trained infectious disease doctors and five infectious disease trainers. This group will spend as many as 7 days receiving specialized infection control training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Training will be provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.   Within a week, the Quick Response Medical Team should be ready for immediate deployment in any contagious United States location. This team is specifically being readied for domestic concerns and will not be sent overseas to affected areas. Public health professionals in the U.S. will decide if/when/where the team should be deployed.