U.S. Africa Command’s mission to help stem the spread of the deadly Ebola virus throughout West Africa is moving forward, Pentagon officials said Sept. 19. Activities include:
* Redirection of $25 million in Defense Department Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) funds to provide additional equipment, laboratory gear, support, and other requests for the U.S. interagency disaster-response team now working in Africa.
* Another $60 million in CTR funding, aimed at addressing related biological surveillance, safety and security needs in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, as well as other countries that may be affected.
* A planned deployment of a field hospital to Liberia, to go along with the 10,000 U.S.-provided Ebola test kits now in the country.
* Additional personnel and equipment to support medical activities in the region.