101st Airborne Won’t Get Full Protective Hazmat Suits for Ebola Mission in West Africa

Unbelievable.
Troops from the 101st Airborne Division will not receive full protective Hazmat suits for their mission in West Africa.
They’re being sent to West Africa – but won’t get full protective Hazmat suits.

US troops prepare for deployment (US Army Africa)

The 101st Airborne is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. The division was renowned for its role on D-Day. Major General David H. Petraeus (“Eagle 6″) led the Screaming Eagles to war during the 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

The administration says they won’t need them.
Nashville Public Radio reported:

Troops from the 101st Airborne Division leading the military response to Ebola in West Africa will only need gloves and masks to protect themselves from the deadly virus, so said Gen. David Rodriguez at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday.

“They don’t need the whole suit – as such – because they’re not going to be in contact with any of the people,” the commander of U.S. troops in Africa said.

Soldiers from the 101st Airborne will primarily be building hospitals, ultimately leading what could be a contingent of 4,000 American service members. They’ll be housed either in tent cities at military airfields or in Liberian Ministry of Defense facilities, Rodriguez said.

Soldiers’ health will be monitored through surveys and taking their temperature on their way in and out of camps. If a service member does get sick, Rodriguez said they will be flown home immediately for treatment.

Hat Tip Virginia

Health officials admitted this past week that the death rate in the Ebola epidemic has risen to 70 percent, up from 50 percent.

Meanwhile… Obama hit the links today.