Ebola: Watch and Pray (Check back often for updates)




Citing security threat, Obama expands U.S. role fighting Ebola
Sept. 16, 2014
A portion of the article summarized:  

President Barack Obama on Tuesday called West Africa's deadly Ebola outbreak a looming threat to global security and announced a major expansion of the U.S. role in trying to halt its spread, including deployment of 3,000 troops to the region.

"The reality is that this epidemic is going to get worse before it gets better," Obama said at the Atlanta headquarters of the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"But, right now, the world still has an opportunity to save countless lives. Right now, the world has the responsibility to act, to step up and to do more. The United States of America intends to do more," he added.

Obama's plan calls for sending 3,000 troops, including engineers and medical personnel; establishing a regional command and control centre in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, commanded by Major General Darryl Williams, who arrived there on Tuesday; and forming a staging area in Senegal to help distribute personnel and aid on the ground.

It also calls for building 17 treatment centres with 100 beds each; placing U.S. Public Health Service personnel in new field hospitals in Liberia; training thousands of healthcare workers for six months or longer; and creating an "air bridge" to get health workers and medical supplies into West Africa more quickly.

The worst Ebola outbreak since the disease was identified in 1976 has already killed nearly 2,500 people and is threatening to spread elsewhere in Africa.

Obama said "the world is looking to us" to take the lead against Ebola, but urged other nations also to take action because the epidemic is "spiralling out of control" and "people are literally dying in the streets."

The White House said the troops will not be responsible for direct patient care. Amid concern about infections, Obama said the "safety of our personnel will remain a top priority." He also said the "chances of an Ebola outbreak here in the United States are extremely low."
Sept. 16, 2014

A portion of Dr. Brantly's words:  

This unprecedented outbreak began nine months ago but received very little attention from the international community until the events of mid-­‐July when my friend and colleague, Nancy Writebol, and I became infected. Since that time, there has been intense media attention and therefore increased awareness of the situation on the ground in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and neighboring countries. The response, however, is still unacceptably out-­‐of-­‐step with the size and scope of the problem now before us.

On September 7, President Obama committed U.S. military support in the fight against Ebola in West Africa. He also is requesting an additional $88 million for the Centers for Disease Control to send in more personnel, equipment, and laboratory supplies. This is great news, and I applaud his willingness to enter into this battle with us. Now it is imperative that these words are backed up by immediate, decisive action. We need more than just a 25-­‐bed Ebola Treatment Unit and training for local security forces. To control this outbreak and save the lives of thousands of West Africans—and possibly even more Americans—we need the U.S. to take the lead in providing large treatment facilities, skilled personnel, medical supplies, logistical support, mobile laboratories, and security. We also need to implement innovative community programs to stop the spread of the virus.



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