Federal Workers to Treat Ebola Patients in West Africa

The Obama administration repeatedly reassured the public that American troops would not be exposed to Ebola victims while deployed in West Africa to help stem the epidemic. However, as part of President Barack Obama’s evolving response, a small number of uniformed officers from a department under the Health and Human Services Department umbrella will work with Ebola patients.

Seventy members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed members of the U.S. Public Health Service, have been tasked with treating Liberian doctors and nurses who catch the disease, Rear Adm. Scott Giberson, acting U.S. deputy surgeon general, told USA Today.

"We’re here to bring safety and security to those courageous responders," the paper quoted Giberson as saying in an interview from Liberia. "They have to feel secure that there will be a high level of care provided if they do fall ill of Ebola."

Few outside of those in the public health universe are likely to have heard of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. According to HHS, the corps is comprised on 6,500 health care workers trained to respond to public health crises across the federal government. They have doctors, environmental experts, dentists, and veterinarians in their ranks, among other health professionals.

Health-care workers who treat the disease are at high risk of infection. For example, Craig Spencer, a New York City doctor who treated Ebola in West Africa, was eventually diagnosed with it last month. According to the World Health Organization, 310 of the 4,808 Ebola deaths were medical workers.

Member of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are expected to work in the 25-bed Monrovia Medical Unit that Pentagon personnel built.

Giberson noted that all of the Public Health Service workers in Liberia volunteered for the mission. He said that they accepted the elevated chance of infection.

"Although I do have the general concern that there is high risk," he said, "I know that … they’re willing to accept that risk in order to succeed in the mission."

None of the American service members in West Africa will have direct contact with Ebola patients. Nonetheless, they will be quarantined at their home bases upon return as a precaution.

The announcement comes as the Obama administration transitions its limited Ebola financial commitment to a more robust one. Initially, the White House said it would spend $750 million on Ebola efforts. Wednesday, the president asked Congress to up the U.S. commitment to $6.18 billion.

"My foremost priority is to protect the health and safety of Americans, and this request supports all necessary steps to fortify our domestic health system and prevent any outbreaks at home," Obama wrote in his letter requesting the money. "Over the longer term, my administration recognizes that the best way to prevent additional cases at home will be to contain and eliminate the epidemic at its source in Africa."