KXAN News – by Patrick Tolbert
KILLEEN, Texas (KXAN) – HAZMAT crews have been called to a Killeen home after the body of a soldier who was deployed to West Africa was found Tuesday morning in Killeen.
According to KXXV-TV, the soldier’s body was found in the 3300 block of Cantabrian Drive and Fort Hood officials confirm the soldier just returned from West Africa.
Killeen Police told KXXV the cause of death is unknown and that the soldier’s body has been sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
The soldier returned from Liberia in early January. Soldiers returning from West Africa are supposed to be in quarantine for 21 days after returning to the U.S. However, Fort Hood Officials said this soldier was home on emergency leave and was “self-monitoring himself twice-a-day and report his status to medical officials.”
Fort Hood Officials told NBC News there is no indication had Ebola nor is there any danger to the community.
About 500 Fort Hood soldiers were deployed to Liberia to help in the fight against Ebola. Those troops were part of the 36th Engineer Brigade who went to West Africa to build treatment centers as well as compounds for soldiers living quarters.
“We have no indication that this is an Ebola matter. It is considered to be very low risk. DSHS was made aware of the situation and gave general guidance related to infection control and handling of remains. Testing for Ebola will occur to ensure there is no risk to the community,” Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Carrie Williams told KXAN.
http://kxan.com/2015/01/13/fort-hood-soldiers-death-prompts-hazmat-response/