President Obama on Thursday warned that nations “are not moving fast enough” to combat the rapidly spreading Ebola virus in West Africa, saying that without a more forceful response, the epidemic could claim “hundreds of thousands” of lives.
“There’s still a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be,” Obama told the United Nations General Assembly. “We know from experience that the response to an outbreak of this magnitude needs to be both fast and sustained — like a marathon, but run at the pace of a sprint. That’s only possible if every nation and every organization does its part. And everyone has to do more.”
Last week, the president dispatched 3,000 military personnel to West Africa to set up a command center to help treat the virus, part a $750 billion effort.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that up to 1.4 million people could become infected with Ebola if there are no changes in behavior.
And African leaders fear that the virus has already begun to spiral out of control.
“Stopping Ebola is a priority for the United States,” Obama pledged on Thursday. “We will continue to lead, and do our part. But this must also be a priority for the world.”
