Associated Press

ROSEMOUNT – Nearly 700 Minnesota soldiers are being sent to West Africa to assist the U.S. military's response to the Ebola virus outbreak.

The Minnesota National Guard says the soldiers from the Rosemount-based 34th Red Bull Infantry Division will be deployed to Liberia in April after going through training. The deployment is expected to be for about six months.

Officials say the Minnesota soldiers will not be treating Ebola patients but will be asked to "synchronize the operations, logistics, personnel and resources of the U.S. military forces assigned to the area.

The deadly Ebola virus has killed more than 5,000 people since the outbreak began.

Gov. Mark Dayton issued a statement thanking the soldiers for their "heroic work."