Obama Asks Other Countries to Join Broader Effort to Contain Ebola Epidemic

Underlining the need for a broader international effort to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic, US President Barack Obama said that other countries should come together in order to prevent the disease from affecting hundreds of thousands who are at great risk. In a speech at the UN General Assembly, Obama grouped Ebola with the crisis in Ukraine and the threat posed by Islamic State group jihadists in Iraq and Syria as "new dangers" that imperil global security.

The outbreak in west Africa has killed nearly 3,000 people. The World Health Organization has warned the number of cases could explode in the coming months without an urgent response.

"As we speak, America is deploying our doctors and scientists -- supported by our military -- to help contain the outbreak of Ebola and pursue new treatments," Obama told the 193-member Assembly.

"But we need a broader effort to stop a disease that could kill hundreds of thousands, inflict horrific suffering, destabilize economies, and move rapidly across borders."

The US president said it was wrong to see the disease, which has overwhelmed public health systems in West Africa, as a distant problem.

"That is why we will continue mobilizing other countries to join us in making concrete commitments to fight this outbreak, and enhance global health security for the long-term," Obama said.

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that without quicker prevention efforts, hundreds of thousands could be infected with Ebola by the end of the year.

The US Centers for Disease Control estimates that cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone could rocket to 1.4 million by January -- in a worst-case scenario based on data obtained before the world ramped up its response.

Source-AFP