The Army's Fort Hood is working with the Killeen, Texas, police department to determine the circumstances of the death of an unnamed soldier who was deployed to Liberia to help fight the outbreak of Ebola, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.
The soldier, who returned to the USA this month, died from unknown causes, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. Medical tests are being conducted to determine the cause of death.
The soldier died at his home off base, a Fort Hood statement said.
The soldier was found in or near a pool of vomit, prompting concern about Ebola, according to a Defense Department official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation.
A second Defense official said the soldier had been allowed to leave the post after returning from west Africa under emergency leave and had not shown signs of the disease when he returned to the post.
"At this point, there is no indication of the Ebola virus disease, but medical tests are underway to ensure there is no threat to the community," the Fort Hood statement said.
About 3,000 troops are being deployed to West Africa to help fight the outbreak, which has claimed more than 8,200 lives, according to the World Health Organization.
PHOTOS | Battling the Ebola outbreak
epa04492753 A United Methodist News Service handout
An undated United Methodist News Service photograph shows Martin Salia, left, performing surgery at the Kissy Hospital outside Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April. Salia died Nov. 17 while being treated at a biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. (Photo: Mike DuBose, United Methodist News Service, via European Pressphoto Agency)