The US military plans to withdraw most troops deployed in West Africa
to help stem the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, the Pentagon says,
ending a five-month mission. A force that at one point reached
2800 has been scaled back to about 1300 troops and "nearly all will
return by April 30", Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a
statement on Tuesday.
The announcement came as the epidemic has begun to recede and after commanders suggested they might be able to wrap up the mission earlier than initially expected.
Captain Josh McVay is reunited with his wife Bethany and daughter Elise
at a Texas air force base after returning from an Ebola supply mission
from Senegal to Liberia. Photo / AP
A small team of about 100 troops will remain in the region to strengthen "disease preparedness and surveillance capacity" of local governments, Kirby said.
At the height of the Ebola outbreak, US President Barack Obama approved plans in September for more than 3000 troops to head to Liberia and Senegal.
But the full contingent never had to be ordered in as the tide began to turn in the effort to contain the virus.
The US forces, most of whom were stationed in Liberia, constructed Ebola treatment units, trained "hundreds" of health workers, and provided logistical support to humanitarian groups throughout West Africa, Kirby said.
The announcement came as the epidemic has begun to recede and after commanders suggested they might be able to wrap up the mission earlier than initially expected.
A small team of about 100 troops will remain in the region to strengthen "disease preparedness and surveillance capacity" of local governments, Kirby said.
At the height of the Ebola outbreak, US President Barack Obama approved plans in September for more than 3000 troops to head to Liberia and Senegal.
But the full contingent never had to be ordered in as the tide began to turn in the effort to contain the virus.
The US forces, most of whom were stationed in Liberia, constructed Ebola treatment units, trained "hundreds" of health workers, and provided logistical support to humanitarian groups throughout West Africa, Kirby said.
