Ebola Spreads, World Leaders Band Together

The Ebola virus now threatens to infect more than a million people by the beginning of next year.  As the emergency grows, United States and world leaders are joining together to fight the illness.
    
The scene is all too common: West Africans in agonizing pain, outside overcrowded, understaffed treatment facilities.  Sometimes patients are admitted, while others die waiting. 

One of the worst areas is Liberia, where resident Abraham Sesay described the situation.
    
"It is kind of pathetic to come and then see patients lying all on the ground and nobody to even see them," he said.
    
The death toll, which doubles every three weeks, now stands at 3,000, but the World Health Organization says it's actually much higher because of unreported cases. 

Health officials estimate that if nothing is done to stop the spread of the virus, the number of people infected will reach 1.4 million by January.
    
While speaking to the United Nations, President Barack Obama said the countries of the world need to band together to help those in Africa suffering from Ebola.
    
"If ever there were a public health emergency deserving of an urgent, strong and coordinated international response, this is it," he said.
    
Obama pledged 3,000 American troops and a billion dollars to build treatment centers. But the United States will not provide the 8,000 healthcare workers needed to staff those centers.
    
The U.S. State Department created a new position, Ebola coordinator, and named Nancy Powell, the former ambassador to India, to the post. Her mission: get other countries in the fight.
    
Meanwhile, Boston physician Dr. Rick Sacra was released from a Nebraska hospital after contracting the Ebola virus last month while working at a Christian hospital in Liberia. 

At a press conference Dr. Sacra thanked people for their prayers, thanked the hospital staff and most of all, thanked God.
   
"Ever since I committed my life to Jesus as a young man, He has loved me and stood beside me and given me His grace," Sacra said. "But the outpouring of grace that I have experienced during my fight with Ebola has been especially generous."
    
Doctors say Sacra's treatment involved an experimental drug called TKM-Ebola.  He also received two blood transfusions from fellow Ebola survivor, American Dr. Kent Brantly, who doctors believe may have antibodies in his blood that fight the Ebola virus. 

Sacra also reported received I-V fluids, electrolites and other treatments to strengthen his immune system.
    
Dr. Sacra said his heart and prayers are with the people who are still in West Africa battling the Ebola outbreak.
    
That includes CBN's Operation Blessing, which is providing chlorinated water for disinfecting and medical supplies.  Operation Blessing's David Darg says they are also partnering with local Christians to teach hygiene.
    
"And so it's church volunteers that are forming these Ebola prevention teams," he explained, "So they're wearing T-shirts, going out into the communities being the boots on the ground, really, helping spread the message of prevention."
    
Health experts say while the Ebola outbreak is not likely to spread to the United States, the possibility increases each day the virus rages out of control in Africa.