An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

JBLM leaders ease Ebola concerns at Town Hall

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Russ Jackson
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Leaders from Joint Base Lewis-McChord hosted the second of four Town Hall Ebola updates at the McChord Field Theater, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Nov. 13, 2014, for any Airman, Soldier, civilian and family member on the installation interested in the facts about the Ebola Virus Disease.

Town Hall Ebola updates were hosted at different locations across JBLM at four different times in order to accommodate the different work schedules of military and civilian members.

The purpose of the Town Hall was to address concerns after JBLM was recognized for sending troops into West Africa in support of Operation United Assistance.

"Today is about education and information," said Col. Chuck Hodges, JBLM installation commander. "I want to make sure you do not walk out of here today without your questions answered."

Hodges introduced Lt. Col. Rodd Marcum, Madigan Preventative Medicine physician, who proceeded to conduct the Town Hall briefing.

"What I'd like to do today is summarize some of the key aspects of the virus, its disease in humans, and describe some measures preparing and protecting our individual service members deploying to West Africa in response to OUA," Marcum said.

Marcum identified the facts and myths surrounding Ebola and what to watch for if someone fears they have contracted the virus. He tried to set fears of developing the virus at ease by explaining it cannot be contracted through the air, via an insect bite, or through consumption of food or water.

He made a point to say there is a very small portion of the American population that is at risk for developing the Ebola virus disease. He identified those at risk to have the appropriate travel history, meaning they had been to Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia within the past 21 days.

"At no point will individual service members be providing direct care to known Ebola patients," Marcum said. "Every effort is being made to reduce the risk for any and all service members deployed in support of OUA as far as their Ebola exposure goes."

JBLM leaders then took questions from audience members hoping to answer all of their questions and putting to ease any remaining concerns.

As audience members asked questions, Marcum was joined by JBLM's leaders to answer questions.

Dr. Robert Allen, 62nd Airlift Wing historian asked a question about the cleaning of aircraft being used in support of OUA and was concerned with the Ebola scare being an issue of perception more than a medical problem.

Col. David Kumashiro, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, quickly stood to answer his question.

"I want to go back to the distinction between asymptomatic and symptomatic in terms of the disease," Kumashiro said. "If the individuals are asymptomatic, there's really nothing to worry about in terms of the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors or Marines that we are deploying back stateside. Currently, the [Department of Defense] is not transporting any passengers who are symptomatic."

For general information on the Ebola Virus, visit http://www.mamc.amedd.army.mil/clinical/preventive-medicine/ebola-preparedness-and-prevention.aspx