MONROVIA, August 27 (LINA) -The visiting Head and Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Dr. Tom Frieden, has said that the Ebola outbreak in the country will get worse before it gets better.
Dr. Frieden said the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners are taking active steps to respond to the rapidly changing situation in West Africa.
According to the Liberia News Agency, the CDC official spoke Wednesday at a press conference held at the Ministry of Information on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.
He said although the current outbreak does not pose a significant risk to the United States public, CDC is taking precautions at home in addition to its activities abroad.
Dr. Frieden noted that his organization has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help coordinate technical assistance and disease control activities with partners, saying that the CDC has deployed several teams of public health experts to the West African region.
He disclosed that as of August 19, some 60 CDC staff were deployed in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to assist with various response efforts including surveillance, contact tracing, database management and health education.
The CDC official promised the U.S government’s fullest commitment to helping Liberia in the fight against the virus, but stressed the need for Liberians to take the lead.
He emphasized that Liberians must avoid coming in contact with sick persons, dead bodies as well as refrain from traditional practices, noting, “this will help to save you from the virus”.
Dr. Frieden also stressed that the Center for Disease Control has issued a warning; level 3 notice for US Citizens to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and an Alert level 2 travel notice to advise enhanced precautions for people traveling to Nigeria.
He explained that CDC is assisting with exit screening and communication efforts in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes.
LINA RS/TSS/PTK