The most recent actions taken, as well as decisions made by certain US states to enforce mandatory quarantines on health workers coming back from treating Ebola patients in West Africa, have been criticized by health authorities and the United Nations as extreme. The head health official responsible for handling Washington's reaction to Ebola cautioned against treating doctors and nurses who go to West Africa to combat Ebola as outcasts. The Ebola epidemic has resulted in the deaths of almost 5,000 individuals since March, with the majority in West Africa, but nine cases in the United States have caused concern. States like New York and New Jersey have disregarded federal recommendations by implementing their own strict measures. The United Nations strongly denounced the new restrictions put in place by certain US states on health workers returning from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated that these returning health workers are selfless individuals who should not face restrictions that lack scientific basis. American soldiers coming back from West Africa are also being isolated, despite showing no symptoms of infection and not being believed to have been exposed to the virus. In a press release, the Army explained that the 21-day monitoring period for returning soldiers was ordered to reassure soldiers, their families, and the surrounding communities that all necessary steps are being taken to protect their health. The Army placed around twelve soldiers in isolation upon their return to their home base in Vicenza, Italy over the weekend. This group included Major General Darryl Williams, who supervised the military's initial efforts in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Williams stated in an interview with Reuters that they are staying in a separate area on the base with no contact with the general population or their families, ensuring that they will not be walking around Vicenza. The US military has emphasized that their personnel are not coming into contact with Ebola patients, but are instead constructing treatment facilities to assist health authorities in combating the epidemic. According to Dr. Jeff Duchin, up to 4,000 U.S. troops could be sent on the mission, and he believes that isolation is not necessary from a public health perspective. The decision to deploy troops goes against military protocols and is in response to concerns over quarantines for healthcare workers returning from Ebola-affected countries. Federal health officials have updated guidelines for returning medical workers, recommending isolation only for those at highest risk of Ebola infection, while others will require daily monitoring. Dr. Thomas Frieden of the CDC stated that decisions are based on science and experience. Frieden mentioned that guidelines and recommendations are adjusted as science and experience evolve. The new guidelines by the Obama administration are not obligatory, allowing states to implement stricter policies if desired. Australia has implemented a ban on visas from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa, a move criticized by experts as being politically motivated and short-sighted. Medical professionals emphasize that Ebola is not easily transmitted and is not airborne. Mandatory quarantines have been denounced by various organizations as unjustified and hindering efforts to combat the disease in West Africa. Anthony Banbury, head of UNMEER, stated that health workers returning home should be treated as heroes.