At least eight soldiers, among them two commissioned officers and two medical staff, have reportedly lost their lives to the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), the Daily Observer has reliably learnt.

Those victimized by the EVD have been identified as, Private (PVT) Calvin Sackie, Corporals (Cpls) Florson Louise, Fanbiman Samuel, and Private First Class (Pfc) Anthony Sheriff.

Others are Sergeant (Sgt) Kromah, who was assigned as the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) medic and another medic from the Ministry of National Defense (MOD) identified as Annitta Sackie.

The two commissioned officers victimized by the EVD were up to press time not named.

The deceased, according to our source, contracted Ebola recently at the Edward Binyan Kesseley (EBK) Barracks when a lady unsuspected of carrying the disease, visited one of the victims, Cpl Floson Louise.

The ‘concubine’ who visited the late soldier has also been victimized by the disease. She is yet to be identified.

“When she slept at the EBK, it was thereafter the soldiers contracted the disease, and could not survive despite “intensive treatment” at the various Ebola Treatment Units in Monrovia,” our source disclosed.

This latest setback among the rank and file of the already sparse number of soldiers has reportedly created panic among them, to the extent that some of them have begun to desert the various barracks across the country.

Based on this information, the Daily Observer yesterday contacted Defense Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, David K. Dahn, who neither confirmed nor denied the report.

He, however, told this newspaper via mobile phone, “The whole West Africa is being threatened by Ebola, of which the AFL is no exception, because they are among other Liberians being afflicted by the EVD.”

He disclosed that the military is carrying out some measures at its barracks to decongest the soldiers. “This is why the barracks have become so quiet since the Ebola outbreak in the country.”

The latest deaths of the soldiers sadly add to several Para-military and other security personnel, including officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP), that have died. Others, including close family members, had been quarantined and subsequently released, having completed their 21 days isolation.