SELF-DEFENSE: Volunteers participate in an Ebola awareness roadshow in Kenema, Sierra Leone, on August 18 (MENG CHENGUANG)

Thomas Eric Duncan, the patient with the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States, who came from Liberia, died on October 8. Only after the country's first secondary infection case was confirmed—when a nurse participating in the treatment of Duncan was reported to have contracted Ebola—did panic begin to grip the United States. According to a recent poll by The Washington Post, two thirds of U.S. citizens are suffering from "Fear-bola," worrying that they themselves will catch the virus.

Tao believed that the panic in the United States is understandable. He said that people in the country previously supposed they were "immune" to the virus due to its remoteness and the sound healthcare system. When the country was found to be vulnerable to the deadly epidemic, gloomy sentiments naturally began to spread among Americans. In a globalized world, any virus infection could reach any part of the globe through air travel, Tao noted.

Meanwhile in China, the Chinese Government has put large amounts of human, material and financial resources to help disease-affected countries since the early stage of the epidemic outbreak. However, public awareness of the disease is still very low in the country. China's health authorities also warned recently of a heightened risk of the epidemic in the country and ordered an upgrade of prevention mechanisms nationwide.

Extensive impacts

The WHO warned in mid-October that the number of new Ebola cases in West Africa could reach 5,000 to 10,000 per week by early December, adding that this health crisis is unparalleled in modern times and the gravity of the situation is difficult to get across with just a few statistics.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed caution over the epidemic's potential adverse effects on the global economy. A recent IMF report noted that the dire situation in underdeveloped Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is exacting a heavy human and economic toll. In Sierra Leone, for example, the estimated growth rate for this year has been downsized from 11 percent to 3 percent.

According to the report, the epidemic might bring disastrous consequences for West African economies, which could also affect the growth of some emerging economies that have close economic connections with the region.

More seriously, the disease could potentially deal a heavy blow to West Africa's agricultural sector, resulting in a region-wide famine. About 40 percent of farmers in Sierra Leone have given up farming due to the epidemic. In war-torn Liberia, the epidemic may drag the country back to instability. Observers warned that the crisis has pushed society to the brink of collapse. In the face of the broad presence of Ebola, the unstable economy and poor national healthcare system have led to high levels of domestic discontent, risking new civil unrest.

Encouragingly, with growing awareness of the potentially worldwide threat posed by Ebola, the international community is taking more concrete steps.

UN Secretary General Ban recently appealed to the international community to provide $1 billion to help meet the target of reducing Ebola's transmission rate by December 1.

When attending the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Milan, Italy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced on October 16 that China would provide at least 100 million yuan ($16 million) in additional aid to help West Africa fight the deadly epidemic.

Prior to the latest assistance, China had offered the embattled Africa a total of 234 million yuan ($38 million) in aid to confront the Ebola epidemic since April. The Chinese Government has also sent medical supplies and medical experts to affected countries. Now, a third batch of Chinese medical experts has arrived in Guinea to work with local medical workers to contain the disease.

President Obama has authorized the U.S. Department of Defense to call up armed forces to active duty to help combat the spread of Ebola in West Africa. In early October, the Pentagon announced that it would deploy 4,000 military engineers and medical personnel to assist with West Africa's Ebola control efforts.

With the incoming boost of international assistance, encouraging news is being reported: In some treatment centers in the three worst-hit countries, patients are receiving the care they need. In several locations, community-based programs are yielding promising results.

After taking effective measures to prevent new infection cases over a specified time frame, less-affected Senegal and Nigeria were declared free of Ebola by the WHO on October 17 and 20, respectively.

There is still a long way to go before the international community brings the Ebola crisis well under its control. To this end, concerted world efforts are required simply because Ebola as a disease is so dangerous that even a brief delay could have exponential ramifications, said a Xinhua commentary.

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