Why the CDC, WHO, and State Department are all sounding alarms over a surging Ebola outbreak

The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has escalated rapidly, with the World Health Organization reporting 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths. The WHO Director General has expressed deep concern about the epidemic’s scale and speed, while the CDC confirmed that an American missionary, Dr. Peter Stafford, tested positive in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is being transferred to Germany for treatment along with high-risk contacts. In response, the U.S. State Department has banned entry for travelers from affected countries in the last 21 days. Quarantine and isolation guidelines continue to be updated as the situation evolves.