Washington, D.C.— In response to news reports that Secretary Hagel has approved the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that all military personnel serving in Ebola afflicted areas of West Africa undergo a mandatory, 21-day 'controlled monitoring' period, Congressman Mike Turner, a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement:
“Last Friday, I questioned General Lariviere regarding the Department of Defense’s Ebola guidance for service members being deployed to countries with Ebola outbreaks. I seriously recommended that these guidelines be revised in order to protect our men and women in uniform and ensure that the public isn’t unduly exposed.
The previous DOD guidelines on monitoring returning troops stated that 'as long as individuals remain asymptomatic, they may return to work and routine daily activities with family members.'
Today, I’m encouraged that Secretary Hagel shares my concerns and is taking action to impose a 21-day 'controlled monitoring' period for all returning troops. We are hopeful that this period is in effect a quarantine.
This act will ensure that our service men and women, their families, and our communities have the confidence that every necessary precaution is taken to ensure their health and safety.”