Obama authorizes Guard, reserve call-up for Ebola
By Associated Press
Oct 16, 2014 3:39 PM CDT
Obama authorizes Guard, reserve call-up for Ebola
White House press secretary Josh Earnest speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. Earnest responded to questions regarding the government's response to the Ebola outbreak. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is authorizing the Pentagon to call up reserve and National Guard troops if they are needed to assist in the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The U.S. has already committed to sending up to 4,000 military personnel to West Africa to provide logistics and help build treatment units to confront the rapidly spreading and deadly virus.

Obama signed an executive order Thursday that permits the Pentagon to use the reservists and Guard troops.

Obama also notified top congressional officials of his move.

Nearly 4,500 people have died from the Ebola outbreak, most of them in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The White House has said the troops will not be providing direct health care aid.