I am aware of the Army's capabilities with respect to infectious diseases. They are just not comparable to those of CDC. The Army, acting on behalf of all services, is studying those diseases that could be used as biological weapons against the US. Ebola is one of them.
To your point though, the Army won’t be treating Ebola. They will be providing logistical support for and protection of our personnel.
From the Stars and Stripes via the WP: US military to lead Ebola fight; to send 3,000 personnel to W. Africa
By the end of the week, a general from U.S. Africa Command will be in place in Monrovia, Liberia — the country where transmission rates are increasing rapidly — to lead the effort called Operation United Assistance. The command will help oversee and coordinate U.S. and international relief efforts while a new, separate regional staging base will help accelerate transportation of urgently needed equipment, supplies and personnel.
In addition, the Pentagon will send engineers to set up 17 treatment centers in Liberia — each with a 100-bed capacity — as well as medical personnel to train up to 500 health-care workers a week in the region.
She said the U.S. military will train local medical personnel to treat Ebola victims, but there will be “no direct patient care” provided by American service members.
We will see how they can separate treating patients and training healthcare workers--many of whom come in contact with patients. I worry about exposure of our personnel to the disease no matter how many precautions are taken.
I think you are stuck on the word “lead.” I haven’t read anything that suggests the CDC won’t be making epidemiological decisions. Just because the Army is providing logistical support, physical protection, and training doesn’t mean they are dictating the strategy for containing Ebola. (We shall see, I guess.)
Yes, I read that Stripes articles. Here’s a key quote:
“The U.S. military, with its enormous logistical capability, extensive air operations, and highly skilled medical corps, could address gaps in the response quickly.”
“I am aware of the Army’s capabilities with respect to infectious diseases. They are just not comparable to those of CDC.”
If you look at the links I provided earlier, and understand the situation in Africa you should cringe at your own statement.
“The United States has already spent $175 million responding to the outbreak and has dispatched 100 CDC experts, among the largest deployments of agency personnel in its history.”
Wow, a whole one hundred people. Do you know how underwhelming that is given the current stage of the epidemic growth? The military is sending over 3000. You are right, the army’s capabilities don’t compare to the CDC’s the DWARF it!!!