President Obama said Wednesday the world has made “major progress” in the fight against the Ebola virus.
In a White House meeting with the leaders of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia — the three West African countries hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak — the president said reported cases of Ebola have dropped dramatically, with just 40 new cases reported last week.
The success, Mr. Obama said, largely is due to U.S. efforts in the region.
“The United States has had a long partnership with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and that partnership has proven to be critical,” he told reporters. “So far we’ve seen major progress. … We’re now focused on a shared goal of getting to zero.”
The Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 10,000 lives, according to World Health Organization estimates.
Last year, Mr. Obama dispatched about 3,000 U.S. troops to Liberia to coordinate relief efforts. The administration also has provided significant funding to address the outbreak, including more than $100 million for laboratory equipment, protective gear and other supplies for relief workers on the ground in West Africa.
Moving forward, the president said the U.S. will work with the World Bank and other international institutions to improve the health care systems in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone so they are better able to handle future outbreaks.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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