29th October, 2014
Veneto President Luca Zaia on Wednesday said Italy should not allow US soldiers returning from Ebola-stricken Liberia to be quarantined in Italy.
Since Sunday, 11 soldiers back from active duty in the West African nation have been kept in isolation at the U.S. army base in Vicenza, a town in north-east Italy about 40 kilometres from Venice.
“I am stunned, why should we be stuck with these soldiers who are at risk. They should pack their bags and go home, there is no way we can become a leper hospital,” Zaia added, arguing that, Italy has once again shown itself as spineless by allowing the US soldiers into its territory.
Zaia is a member of the Northern League, a right-wing, anti-immigration party that has in the past called for the secession of Italy’s wealthiest northern regions from the poorer south.
However, the US soldiers were slated to be quarantined for 21 days.
Those under the regime include Gen. Darryl Williams, Commander of US Army forces in Africa, said that they felt great.
He explained that he and the other soldiers were checking their temperature twice a day and that the plastic cutlery they use for their meals was being burned.
Williams said that 75 more US soldiers were due to return from Liberia this week to be quarantined at the army base in Vicenza.