(MENAFN- AFP) US Secretary of State John Kerry issued an "urgent plea" Wednesday to all nations to step up the fight against Ebola, warning there was no time to waste as a Liberian died in a Texas hospital.
"The fact is more countries can and must step up," Kerry told reporters after talks with his British counterpart Philip Hammond, warning there were "still not enough countries to make the difference" as the world confronts the spread of the disease that has killed thousands in West Africa.
He was speaking just as Texas hospital officials confirmed that a Liberian man -- the first person who was diagnosed with Ebola outside West Africa -- had died.
Health officials in Dallas are monitoring dozens of people who may have come in contact with Thomas Duncan, including about 10 considered at high risk of contracting Ebola, after he arrived from Liberia on a family visit last month.
"Ebola is an urgent global crisis that demands an urgent global response," Kerry said, displaying a series of slides showing efforts by individual nations, and highlighting how small countries had in some ways done more per capita than their larger counterparts.
"I'm here this morning to make an urgent plea to countries in the world to step up even further. While we are making progress, we are not where we can say that we need to be," Kerry warned.
"There are additional needs that have to be met, in order for the global community to properly respond to this challenge and to make sure that we protect people in all of our countries."
Hammond agreed, saying the world could beat the Ebola crisis, which has killed some 3,439 people, according to the World Health Organization.
"If we get ahead of it, if we rise to the challenge, we can contain it and beat it. We know how to do this," Hammond said, as Britain unveiled plans to send 750 military personnel as well as a medical ship and three helicopters to Sierra Leone.
- Specific needs -
"We now need... the wider international community to step up to the plate and deliver that additional resource, not just money but trained medical and clinical personnel to lead that effort on the ground... We all have to do more if we are to prevent what is currently a crisis becoming a catastrophe," Hammond insisted.
Kerry said there was a need for Ebola treatment units, health care workers, medical evacuation abilities, as well as non-medical support such as telecommunications, generators and incinerators.
"Now is the time for action, not words, and frankly there is not a moment to waste on this effort," added Kerry.
He also called for airlines to continue to operate in West Africa and for countries to keep their borders open to allow medical experts and equipment free access.
So far the United States and Britain have together contribute $120 million to the fight against Ebola, with Canada putting up an additional $31.9 million, and a large amount coming from such institutions as the World Bank.
But there is a $306.2 million shortfall from the UN's goal of reaching $998 million to fight the epidemic.
"This underfunding is a critical component of our ability to be able to meet this challenge," Kerry said.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.