Army Awards Soldiers for Stopping Spread of Ebola

ABERDEEN, MD – A group of soldier-scientists was recognized Friday for a months-long deployment to Liberia that helped reduce the spread of Ebola there.

The 1st Area Medical Laboratory, stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, received their Army Superior Unit Streamer Award for their actions during the Ebola outbreak last year.

The soldiers “saved countless lives and helped stop the spread of Ebola,” Col. Laura Elliott, Commander, 1st Area Medical Laboratory, said in a statement.

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Members of the provided same-day results for Ebola tests, something that was previously impossible in the area.

Their services helped identify people who did not have Ebola in a timely fashion so they could be released from quarantines where those who had been infected, officials said.

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak had ended in Liberia as of May 2015. The 1st Area Medical Laboratory soldiers returned in March 2015.