At least 700 members of the U.S. Army will go to Liberia next week as part of the United States' pledge to help fight Ebola. The government equipped 150 of them with safety training to protect themselves from the virus.
The 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. military will be building Ebola care centers and will be providing training to healthcare workers in Liberia.
On Thursday, the soldiers attended the training held at the gym of Fort Campbell to learn more about the disease, such as how it is transmitted and its symptoms, according to USA Today.
"We're so used to being in Iraq and Afghanistan, where you know what you're going to get. This is a lot different," Sgt. Jesus Sanchez told the soldiers. The sergeant admitted that he is worried, but urged the soldiers to focus on helping people.
The U.S. military will be sending experts in aviation, logistics, combat hospitals, transportation and engineering. The officials believe that the chance of catching the virus is very small because these men will have minimal contact with the patients.
Nevertheless, the soldiers were still instructed to seek immediate medical assistance if they suspect that they are infected, and to avoid shaking hands or having physical contact with the locals. They will only consume food and drinks supplied by the U.S. government, and will wear protective gear when working in public areas, according to USA Today.
Meanwhile, spouses of the soldiers who will be deployed to the Ebola-stricken country expressed their worries, especially because the virus has already killed more than 4,000 people in the West African region.
"I have two kids ... Of course they're worrying about their dad," Lieutenant Colonel Scott Sendmeyer told Reuters in a phone interview. "At the same time, I've shared the training that I've received with my family ... That's the way I (relieve) them of their fears."
