Pentagon gives defense civilians options on Ebola

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says its civilian employees who return from Ebola response missions in West Africa will not be required to undergo the same 21-day quarantine-like monitoring that is required of most returning U.S. military members.

The civilian employees may volunteer for the quarantine or they may choose to follow less stringent monitoring under Centers for Disease Control guidelines or as required by authorities in their state.

The civilians must pick an option before leaving West Africa.

The Pentagon also announced Friday that “transient” military personnel, such as air crews, who have no known Ebola exposure in West Africa, will not be required to undergo the 21 days of quarantine. Instead, they must take their temperature twice a day for 21 days after leaving and watch for symptoms.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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