Pentagon says creating medical support team for Ebola response in America

The U.S. Department of Defense said Sunday the military is creating a 30-member team which will be tasked with providing emergency assistance in case there might be more cases of Ebola virus infection in the country.

DOD spokesman John Kirby said the step is taken at the request by the country's Department of Health and Human Services, stressing the team will stand ready to "respond quickly, effectively, and safely" in the event of more Ebola cases.

"Secretary Chuck Hagel today ordered his Northern Command Commander, Gen. Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States," Kirby said in a statement.

Three cases of Ebola virus infection have been diagnosed in the United States. Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man, became the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States. He fell ill while on a trip to Dallas, Texas and died on Oct. 8. Pressure on the Obama administration has built up over the effectiveness of the efforts to fight against Ebola inside the country in recent days after the second nurse who treated him has been diagnosed positive with the virus, triggering widespread concern about the potential spread of the deadly virus. Enditem