Allaying fears about spread of Ebola in the US, President Barack Obama today asserted that the country was not facing an outbreak of the deadly virus and it was fully prepared to confront the challenge posed by the disease.
Obama, in his weekly radio and web address to the nation, said he and his entire administration will continue to do everything possible to prevent further transmission of the disease domestically and to contain and end the Ebola epidemic at its source in West Africa.
"This is a serious disease, but we can't give in to hysteria or fear because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need. We have to be guided by the science," Obama said.
"What we're seeing now is not an 'outbreak' or an 'epidemic' of Ebola in America. We're a nation of more than 300 million people," he said, pointing out that till date three cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in the country.
He went on to detail the three cases which are of a man who contracted the disease in liberia who came to the US and sadly died and that of two courageous nurses who were infected while they were treating the man.
"Now, even one infection is too many. At the same time, one has to keep this in perspective," he said.
Obama said Ebola is actually a difficult disease to catch as it is not transmitted through the air like the flu.
"You cannot get it from just riding on a plane or a bus. The only way that a person can contract the disease is by coming into direct contact with the bodily fluids of somebody who is already showing symptoms. I've met and hugged some of the doctors and nurses who've treated Ebola patients. I've met with an Ebola patient who recovered, right in the Oval Office. And I'm fine," he explained.
"We know how to fight this disease. We know the protocols. And we know that when they're followed, they work. So far, five Americans who got infected with Ebola in West Africa have been brought back to the United States and all five have been treated safely, without infecting healthcare workers," he said.
Obama said one cannot just cut off from West Africa, where this disease is raging.
The US President has also named an "Ebola czar" to coordinate the US response to the deadly virus. Attorney Ron Klain has been named as an "Ebola czar" by Obama to coordinate the US response to the Ebola outbreak, amid growing fear over its spread beyond West Africa.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday said that a collective global response is required to adequately address the Ebola crisis."Our medical experts tell us that the best way to stop this disease is to stop it at its source before it spreads even wider and becomes even more difficult to contain," Obama said.
"Trying to seal off an entire region of the world if that were even possible could actually make the situation worse. It would make it harder to move health workers and supplies back and forth. Experience shows that it could also cause people in the affected region to change their travel, to evade screening and make the disease even harder to track," the President said.
Obama asserted that the United States will continue to help and lead the global response in West Africa.
"Because if we want to protect Americans from Ebola here at home, we have to end it over there. And as our civilian and military personnel serve in the region, their safety and health will remain a top priority," he said.
Obama, however, cautioned that fighting the disease will take time.
"Before this is over, we may see more isolated cases here in America. But we know how to wage this fight. And if we take the steps that are necessary, if we're guided by the science -- the facts, not fear -- then I am absolutely confident that we can prevent a serious outbreak here in the United States and we can continue to lead the world in this urgent effort," Obama said.