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Obama says Ebola outbreak a 'global security threat' Obama says Ebola outbreak a 'global security threat'
(about 2 hours later)
President Barack Obama has called the West Africa Ebola outbreak "a threat to global security" as he announced a larger US role in fighting the virus. President Barack Obama has called the Ebola outbreak in West Africa "a threat to global security", as he announced a larger US role in fighting the virus.
"The world is looking to the United States," Mr Obama said, but added the outbreak required a "global response". The world was looking to the US, Mr Obama said, but added that the outbreak required a "global response".
The measures announced included ordering 3,000 US troops to the region and building new healthcare facilities.The measures announced included ordering 3,000 US troops to the region and building new healthcare facilities.
Ebola has killed 2,461 people this year, about half of those infected, the World Health Organization said. Ebola has killed 2,461 people this year, about half of those infected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The announcement comes as UN officials have called the outbreak a health crisis "unparalleled in modern times". The announcement came as UN officials called the outbreak a health crisis "unparalleled in modern times".
The spread of the disease means the funds needed to fight the outbreak have increased 10-fold in the past month, the UN's Ebola co-ordinator said, saying it needs $1bn (£614m) to fight the outbreak. The funds needed to fight the outbreak have increased 10-fold in the past month and $1bn (£614m) was needed to fight the outbreak, the UN's Ebola co-ordinator said.
'Massive surge needed''Massive surge needed'
Among the measures announced by Mr Obama on Tuesday: Mr Obama said that among other measures, the US would:
Ebola only spreads in close contact but there is no cure and no vaccine. The outbreak began in Guinea before spreading to its neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia. Mr Obama called on other countries to step up their response, as a worsening outbreak would lead to "profound political, economic and security implications for all of us".
Ebola only spreads in close contact, and there is no cure and no vaccine. The outbreak began in Guinea last December before spreading to its neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Mr Obama said the outbreak had reached epidemic proportions in West Africa, as the disease "completely overwhelmed" hospitals and clinics and people were "literally dying on the streets".Mr Obama said the outbreak had reached epidemic proportions in West Africa, as the disease "completely overwhelmed" hospitals and clinics and people were "literally dying on the streets".
He called on other countries to step up their response, as a worsening outbreak would lead to "profound political, economic and security implications for all of us". Tulip Mazumdar, global health correspondent
There's a "potential threat to global security if these countries break down", he said, which would impact on everyone. Mr Obama announced the sort of help that the WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres and others have been calling for for many weeks.
"The world knows how to fight this disease. We know if we take the proper steps we can save lives. But we have to to work fast," Mr Obama said. The promise of 3,000 American troops to help build treatment centres and train thousands of medical staff in Liberia will be a crucial boost to fighting this epidemic, though much more is needed.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the 3,000 troops would not provide direct care to Ebola patients. Some soldiers would be stationed at an intermediate base in Senegal, while others will provide logistical, training and engineering support at locations in Liberia. The health systems of the three worst-affected countries are among the weakest in the world and can't deal with this massive outbreak alone.
On Tuesday, a US congressional panel heard testimony from Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and Dr Kent Brantly, who recovered from an Ebola infection after receiving an experimental treatment for the disease. Several months into this crisis, there are still very few isolation and treatment centres. It means that when infected, people who pluck up the courage to get help are often turned away from medical facilities because there simply isn't room or enough medical staff to treat them.
Dr Fauci told the committee 10 volunteers in a separate vaccine study had shown no ill effects from an early stage trial. That means they end up going home and infecting others.
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) called on other countries to follow the US lead as the response to outbreak continued to fall "dangerously behind". Meanwhile in Guinea, a team of health officials was attacked on Tuesday in a village they were visiting to raise awareness of the illness.
At the Ebola briefing, MSF president Joanne Liu said there needed to be a co-ordinated response under a clear chain of command. People in Wamey, in the south of the country, threw stones at the team, which included WHO and Red Cross representatives. At least 10 officials were hurt, and several who escaped into the bush are still missing.
"The window of opportunity to contain this outbreak is closing," she said. "We need more countries to stand up, we need greater deployment, and we need it now." Also on Tuesday, a US congressional panel heard testimony from Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and Dr Kent Brantly, who recovered from an Ebola infection after receiving an experimental treatment for the disease.
Dr Fauci told the committee that 10 volunteers in a separate vaccine study had shown no ill effects from an early stage trial.
Earlier on Tuesday, the WHO welcomed China's pledge to send a mobile laboratory team to Sierra Leone, which will include epidemiologists, clinicians and nurses.Earlier on Tuesday, the WHO welcomed China's pledge to send a mobile laboratory team to Sierra Leone, which will include epidemiologists, clinicians and nurses.
"The most urgent immediate need in the Ebola response is for more medical staff," WHO head Margaret Chan said in the statement. Cumulative deaths - up to 13 September
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Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukHave you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk