AFP reported that U.S. President Barrack Obama has dispatched a military medical corps comprised of 3,000 personnel to West Africa to assist in deterring the Ebola Virus. The epidemic is showing no sign of slowing down in its pace spreading throughout Africa. So far, it is believed the Ebola had taken 2,400 lives.
Only 47 percent of patients who were contaminated by the Ebola Virus are reported to have survived. The virus has spread all the way to Leone and Guinea with more recent reports of Ebola cases from Liberia and Senegal. There is still no known cure or treatment for the virus except a number of experimental vaccines that research organizations are still trying to find ways of testing.
The 3,000 U.S. military personnel are scheduled to travel to Liberia, where the epidemic had hit the hardest. The corps will be building 17 new health and treatment centers each with around 100 beds for patients. The government announced a plan to dispatch an additional 65 health experts to Liberia to assist already present staff and the military health staff. 400,000 Liberian families are expected to receive health kits from the corps to prevent contamination from the Ebola.
Dr. Margaret Chan who is the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of people actually working to fight the sickness which is equally crucial as resources and humanitarian aid. She said, "Human resources are clearly our most important need. We need most especially compassionate doctors and nurses, who will know how to comfort patients despite the barriers of wearing personal protective equipment and working under very demanding conditions."
President Obama told CNN that the Ebola Virus is still considered a major national security issue, for the illness could possibly reach American borders if left unchecked. Even now, there are Americans being treated for the virus who were contaminated while working in Africa.
