Britain could send 3,000 troops to enforce lockdown in Sierra Leone

[Blackleaf]

Plans drawn up by Britain's most senior army officer could see 3,000 British troops being sent to Sierra Leone to set up military blockades to stop the deadly virus from spreading.

Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the General Staff, will advise Ministers on proposals, including an increase in troop numbers and using Royal Navy ships to patrol Sierra Leone's coastal waters.​

The top-level review comes as charity Oxfam said a critical shortfall of Western military personnel in West Africa was in danger of putting lives at risk. It wants troops to deliver vital supplies and build treatment centres for victims.

But defence sources disclosed last night that options to be considered by Sir Nick go much further and include UK troops deploying to towns and villages deep inside Sierra Leone, which gained its independence from Britain in 1961.

A source said: ‘From a military perspective ebola is like a biological warfare attack and should be countered accordingly. There needs to be a clampdown on human movement inside Sierra Leone and possibly to and from the country between now and late 2015 when it is hoped that an antidote will have been developed.’

92 British Army medics, from 22 Field Hospital, which is based at Normandy Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, arrived in Sierra Leone on Thursday, where they joined the 40 British soldiers which are already there to run a field hospital near the capital Freetown, which has 12 of its 92 beds set aside for those helping to terat others with the disease.​

In addition, the Royal Navy hospital ship RFA Argus left Falmouth for Sierra Leone on Friday, carrying a further 750 military personnel and three Merlin helicopters.​

Ebola lockdown: British plan to send 3,000 UK troops into Sierra Leone to set up military blockades to restrict movement in attempt to stop the virus spreading

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Nick Carter heads review of UK response to disease
One suggestion is to use Royal Navy ships to patrol its coastal waters
Oxfam said lack of Western military personnel in West Africa puts lives at risk
Charity wants troops to deliver vital supplies and build treatment centres​

By Mark Nicol for The Mail on Sunday
19 October 2014
Dailky Mail

Thousands of UK troops would be sent to Sierra Leone to enforce a military lockdown under radical plans to defeat ebola being considered by Britain’s most senior Army officer.

General Sir Nick Carter is leading a review of the UK’s response to the virus, and could use 3,000 British soldiers to impose a blockade and restrict human movement in the African country.

Sir Nick, the Chief of the General Staff, will advise Ministers on proposals, including an increase in troop numbers and using Royal Navy ships to patrol its coastal waters.

Royal Marines Commandos carry out duties on board the hospital ship RFA Argus as it prepares to leave its home port of Falmouth for Sierra Leone

The top-level review comes as charity Oxfam said a critical shortfall of Western military personnel in West Africa was in danger of putting lives at risk. It wants troops to deliver vital supplies and build treatment centres for victims.

But defence sources disclosed last night that options to be considered by Sir Nick go much further and include UK troops deploying to towns and villages deep inside Sierra Leone.

A source said: ‘From a military perspective ebola is like a biological warfare attack and should be countered accordingly. There needs to be a clampdown on human movement inside Sierra Leone and possibly to and from the country between now and late 2015 when it is hoped that an antidote will have been developed.’

​

These 92 British Army medics arrived in Ebola-ravaged Sierra Leone on Thursday to help tackle the disease

Liberian soldiers patrol in Monrovia's West Point slum. British troops could be carrying out similar duties if a recommendation by the Chief of the General Staff is approved

Liberian soldiers patrol Dolo's Town, some 60km east of Monrovia, quarantined as a measure to contain the spread of ebola

RFA Argus sailing from Falmouth on Friday. Those on the ship include doctors, nurses, surgeons and Royal Marines in a bid to tackle the ebola outbreak in West Africa

Sir Nick, who led thousands of UK troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is expected to deliver recommendations by the end of this week. Currently 750 British military personnel are committed to stamping out ebola. The UK has also sent a hospital ship and three helicopters.

Since the outbreak began more than 4,500 people have died from the disease. Experts fear the death toll could rise to a million by July next year.

In a further move, the Government’s health watchdog Public Health England last night released specific advice for pregnant women concerned about contracting ebola, saying research suggested there is ‘limited evidence’ they are at increased risk of severe illness, medical complications and death when infected.

Royal Navy medical ship RFA Argus leaves Falmouth, Cornwall for Sierra Leone on Friday carrying three Merlin helicopters and a crew of around 380

It said: ‘Reported complications include spontaneous abortion and pregnancy-associated haemorrhage. Infants born to mothers who are in the terminal stage of disease are invariably infected.’

Meanwhile, the number of specialist beds available in the UK for ebola victims has been reduced following a legal row over building work at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is withholding payments to the building company Laing O’Rourke Construction after claims that work on a £330million rebuilding project there is not up to standard.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, the trust’s chief executive, said: ‘It means we can’t move to the next stage and build the centre for infectious diseases.’ Laing O’Rourke declined to comment due to legal proceedings.

Crew members of RFA Argus make last minute calls before they sail for Sierra Leone



Read more: 3,000 UK troops in germ warfare-style ebola blockade plan in Sierra Leone* | Daily Mail Online
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[Liberalman]

UK Troops of 3000 that will have a higher casualty rate than a conventional war with enemies shooting at them just because Ebola is a far more effective killing machine

 

[Blackleaf]

UK Troops of 3000 that will have a higher casualty rate than a conventional war with enemies shooting at them just because Ebola is a far more effective killing machine

1) Troops are supposed to put themselves and their lives at risk. It's their job;

2) The chances are that the troops will be protected from Ebola by the wearing of protective equipment. And even if some of them were effected they will get the best medical treatment quickly, greaty increasing their chances of survival. The reason why Ebola deaths in West Africa are so high is because those countries, unlike Britain, lack the best modern healthcare.

 

[CDNBear]

Typical British overkill.

 

[Blackleaf]

Typical British overkill.

Those 3,000 troops haven't been sent there yet.

 

[CDNBear]

Those 3,000 troops haven't been sent there yet.

Typical British pretend overkill.

Pansy's.

 

[MHz]

1) Troops are supposed to put themselves and their lives at risk. It's their job;

2) The chances are that the troops will be protected from Ebola by the wearing of protective equipment. And even if some of them were effected they will get the best medical treatment quickly, greaty increasing their chances of survival. The reason why Ebola deaths in West Africa are so high is because those countries, unlike Britain, lack the best modern healthcare.

Weren't you guys in care of Africa some time back, is that why there are no healt-care facilities for the locals? You only provided for your citizens when they were in any part of Africa. Without reforms I doubt they want you back in any capacity, let alone jabbing them with 'the cure' that send more to the grave than the disease.

 

[CDNBear]

Weren't you guys in care of Africa some time back, is that why there are no healt-care facilities for the locals? You only provided for your citizens when they were in any part of Africa. Without reforms I doubt they want you back in any capacity, let alone jabbing them with 'the cure' that send more to the grave than the disease.

You forgot the Joos, don't forget the Joos.

 

[Blackleaf]

Weren't you guys in care of Africa some time back,

Not all of it.

is that why there are no healt-care facilities for the locals?

Nope.

And there weren't that many BEFORE we were there.

You only provided for your citizens when they were in any part of Africa.

You're not an expert on Britain's colonial history in Africa.

Without reforms I doubt they want you back in any capacity, let alone jabbing them with 'the cure' that send more to the grave than the disease.

Oh, I see. So they don't want that huge hospital ship and those 92 army medics that we are sending to help them combat Ebola? They would rather we just allowed Ebola to kill more and more of their people, do they?

Well, maybe Cameron should order them all back and we'll let the West Africans perish. Not our problem - unless some of them bring their filthy disease to Britain with them.

 

[MHz]

And there weren't that many BEFORE we were there.


You're not an expert on Britain's colonial history in Africa.

Oh, I see. So they don't want that huge hospital ship and those 92 army medics that we are sending to help them combat Ebola? They would rather we just allowed Ebola to kill more and more of their people, do they?

Well, maybe Cameron should order them all back and we'll let the West Africans perish. Not our problem - unless some of them bring their filthy disease to Britain with them.

Obviously as they were isolated from civilization that developed, and no I'm not an expert on all the facts and I'm not claiming to be. My point is if it was a 'former British territory those facilities should have been.

I doubt many of the 'natives' will ever see that ship let alone be allowed onto it. I'm thinking it is for Westerners and their friends exclusively.

I'll bet that the 461 Cuban Doctors that went there are mingling with the people more than the ones on the ship. Would the ship of the UK shower medical supplies on the Cuban Doctors? I'm thinking not but I hope to be shown to be wrong on that point.

Cuba sends 461 doctors, nurses to help fight Ebola in West Africa - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

[WLDB]

Sending troops to war with a virus? ha.

 

[MHz]

Is this 'disease' a parasite or a virus, depending what is phage medicine would seem to be the best way to eliminate it as for each parasite or virus there is one that will kill the other and only the other.
If this is going global I would start making the best CS I could (low amps) and gets some MMS water purification tablets and follow the protocol for dealing with malaria. If it 'works' you could be a first-aider and not need all the protection as the MMS would attack whatever comes in. Usually the start is gong from 0 to 15 drops in 7 days and holding that for 3 days. Maintenance I think is 6 drops twice a week or something like that.

 

[Blackleaf]

Obviously as they were isolated from civilization that developed, and no I'm not an expert on all the facts and I'm not claiming to be. My point is if it was a 'former British territory those facilities should have been.

Sierra Leone has not been a British colony for over 50 years.

If its governments since 1961 have not seen fit to provide proper medical care for its people, or they can't afford to, that's not the fault of the British. Nothing to do with the British, I'm afraid. Most former British colonies are worse off now than they were under British rule. It's no wonder that most Jamaicans want to be under British rule again.

I doubt many of the 'natives' will ever see that ship let alone be allowed onto it. I'm thinking it is for Westerners and their friends exclusively.

Yeah. Alright then.

How the hell can you fight a major disease outbreak my only treating certain people?

I'll bet that the 461 Cuban Doctors that went there are mingling with the people more than the ones on the ship.

Why?

Would the ship of the UK shower medical supplies on the Cuban Doctors?

Surely the Cuban doctors would have their own medical supplies.

 

[CDNBear]

Oh wow, this looks like it will be fun to watch.

Some have any popcorn?

 

[MHz]

The rest die, just like in all other pandemics.

One would hope so but even you must admit that other countries have better supplies, the not sharing would be a black mark against them would it not? If the boat is treating only the Govt and Business owners then the poor won't see any benefits of that ship being around.

This would be a good time to look at the 1918 flu and see how it spread in terms of time and paths.

 

[Blackleaf]

The rest die, just like in all other pandemics.

So you think the British are just going to Sierra Leone to treat any Westerners there and that they won't treat any of the natives of that country, thereby allowing the disease to continue to spread and kill more people, even though that will then mean more Westerners there could end up getting the disease, causing the British to then have to return to Sierra Leone to treat those Westerners?

Okay then.

One would hope so but even you must admit that other countries have better supplies, the not sharing would be a black mark against them would it not? If the boat is treating only the Govt and Business owners then the poor won't see any benefits of that ship being around.

I think we'll leave it to the experts, shall we?

I bet the Sierra Leoneans are grateful that you're not in charge of the anti-Ebola programme.

 

[CDNBear]

Really BL, that's all you could muster? I mean it made me laugh, but you had so much to work with, and you kind of let me down.

 

[MHz]

So you think the British are just going to Sierra Leone to treat any Westerners there and that they won't treat any of the natives of that country, thereby allowing the disease to continue to spread and kill more people, even though that will then mean more Westerners there could end up getting the disease, causing the British to then have to return to Sierra Leone to treat those Westerners?

I think we'll leave it to the experts, shall we?

I bet the Sierra Leoneans are grateful that you're not in charge of the anti-Ebola programme.

My comment was meant to say that the ones that are there and are the most valuable to the UK (or the West) will be the preferred patients. That owuld be the same for most Nations and I'm leaving out the Cuban doctors as they aren't politically motivated as they do the same kind of work all around the GOM. I would juyst like to see them have the same access as the Medical Ship has as I think they are operating on a shoe-string budget without much help from the West. (I also said that is an unknown at the moment.

If there were any experts there wouldn't have been an outbreak. Did you know the 1918 flu is said to have started in some Fort in Texas or close to there. Those would have been the 'experts' of the day. How many million owe them a one finger wave?

Maybe I would have sent 10 ships.

 

[darkbeaver]

The Limeys want to steal resources, the Florence Nightingale angle is pure bovine dung balls.

 

[CDNBear]

I'd actually agree with that.