Liberian president: Help needed to stamp out Ebola

WASHINGTON — Liberia is making progress against Ebola but stamping out the epidemic will be difficult, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told US lawmakers yesterday.

In an unusual address by video to a Senate subcommittee, Sirleaf said about 10 new cases a day have been confirmed in Liberia over the past week compared to around 100 a day at the epidemic's peak.

She thanked the US for helping to fight Ebola, saying it had "awakened the world to the scope and magnitude" of the epidemic in West Africa.

But she made clear that much work remains, saying Liberia was "now in the most critical stage of response," when complacency could allow it to flare up again.

"Traveling that last mile to zero new cases will be much more difficult because the disease has retreated and must now be chased down in every corner," Sirleaf said.

She said Liberia still needs help strengthening its health system to prevent future outbreaks. She noted that Liberia has only one doctor for every 100,000 people.

This week, Congress is preparing to approve a spending bill that includes $5.4 billion in additional funds to fight Ebola abroad and strengthen preparedness at home. President Barack Obama had requested nearly $6.2 billion. Part of that money is planned to improve the health infrastructure in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — the countries hardest-hit by Ebola — so they can spot disease outbreaks early, and better contain them.

Ebola has infected more than 17,000 people in West Africa, and killed more than 6,000. Authorities say infection rates in Guinea also appear to be stabilizing. But cases are escalating in neighboring Sierra Leone, which imposed a two-week "lockdown" in one part of that country yesterday in attempt to stem the spread.