WHO, CDC Say Ebola Outbreak Just Getting Started- 20k More Cases Expected

Ebola Virus
This colorized transmission electron micrograph image shows some of the ultrastructural morphology of an Ebola virus virion. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed more than 2,100 people, making it the biggest outbreak ever, and the World Health Organization (WHO) warns it's just the start.

WHO is predicting thousands of new cases in the coming weeks, according to a recent report. The organization predicted the outbreak will take six to nine months to contain and may infect up to 20,000 more people.

At least 40 percent of the cases have been in just the last three weeks, the UN health agency said, adding that "the outbreak accelerated faster than expected".

"The cases are increasing. I wish I did not have to say this, but it is going to get worse before it gets better," Tom Frieden, the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a news conference in Monrovia last Wednesday.

The Pentagon is sending a 25-bed field hospital to Liberia to help treat health workers who have contracted Ebola there. The WHO is asking governments to triple current aid efforts to battle the explosive outbreak.

The $22 million hospital is being provided at the request of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is coordinating the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak first identified in Guinea in March.

The announcement came after President Barack Obama said on Sunday that the United States must do more to help control the outbreak to stop it from becoming a global crisis that might eventually threaten Americans.

"If we don't make that effort now, and this spreads not just through Africa but other parts of the world, there's the prospect then that the virus mutates, it becomes more easily transmittable," Obama said in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press. "And then it could be a serious danger to the United States."

Meanwhile in Nebraska, Dr. Rick Sacra, the third American missionary to be infected with the Ebola virus, remains in stable condition.

Doctors in Nebraska say they're comparing notes with Emory Hospital in Atlanta, which already treated two Americans with Ebola.

"It's virtually the same strain. I've been on the phone to Emory people every day," Dr. Phil Smith, medical director of the Omaha unit, said.

Federal officials say they sent Sacra to Omaha instead of Atlanta to prepare other isolation units in the United States to take more Ebola patients if needed.

The virus has now spread to five countries in West Africa. Governments are doing everything they can to contain the disease, from imposing night-time curfews to ordering multi-day countrywide lockdowns.

According to the Christian Broadcast Network, Churches and Non-profit agencies like Operation Blessing are also stepping up efforts.

Operation Blessing's David Darg told CBN News that churches in Liberia are working to encourage prevention.

"We have Ebola prevention teams - church volunteers that are going out into the communities - warning people of the signs, telling people what to do if they have symptoms," Darg said.

Liberia is the country worst hit by the virus and it suffers from the greatest shortage of doctors, according to aid workers there. 

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.