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Pentagon sending replacement troops to W. Africa

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (KUNA) -- The US Department is mobilizing 2,100 soldiers to replace troops already in West Africa to combat the Ebola outbreak.
The soldiers will head to Senegal and Liberia to join the team "who are supporting our whole-of-government response to the most devastating Ebola outbreak in history," Pentagon Spokesperson Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement, late on Friday.
Some of the previously deployed personnel have already arrived back home.
"As we rotate US military personnel, we will take all prudent steps necessary to ensure their safety and implement procedures and protocols to reduce or eliminate the risk of transmission of the Ebola virus," Kirby noted.
"All soldiers will conduct regionally-specific training on Ebola prevention, malaria prevention, other medical threats, and medical readiness requirements before deploying." He added that more information will be available about the "units and specialties being mobilized" after the soldiers and their families are notified of the mission. There are currently 2,200 US troops in both Senegal and Liberia, engaged in Operation United Assistance. (end) ys.rk