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UN: Nearly $1 billion needed now to stop Ebola

A sign showing directions to the Lumley Government Hospital, where medical doctor Olivet Buck worked before contracting the Ebola virus and passing away on Saturday, near the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Sierra Leone accused the World Health Organization on Monday of being “sluggish” in facilitating an evacuation of a doctor who died from Ebola before she could be sent out of the country for medical care. Dr. Olivet Buck died Saturday, hours after the U.N. health agency said it could not help evacuate her to Germany. (AP Photo/ Michael Duff)
A sign showing directions to the Lumley Government Hospital, where medical doctor Olivet Buck worked before contracting the Ebola virus and passing away on Saturday, near the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Sierra Leone accused the World Health Organization on Monday of being “sluggish” in facilitating an evacuation of a doctor who died from Ebola before she could be sent out of the country for medical care. Dr. Olivet Buck died Saturday, hours after the U.N. health agency said it could not help evacuate her to Germany. (AP Photo/ Michael Duff) A sign showing directions to the Lumley Government Hospital, where medical doctor Olivet Buck worked before contracting the Ebola virus and passing away on Saturday, near the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Sierra Leone accused the World Health Organization on Monday of being “sluggish” in facilitating an evacuation of a doctor who died from Ebola before she could be sent out of the country for medical care. Dr. Olivet Buck died Saturday, hours after the U.N. health agency said it could not help evacuate her to Germany. (AP Photo/ Michael Duff)

By Associated Press 1 min read

GENEVA (AP) – The World Health Organization is warning that the number of Ebola cases in West Africa could double every three weeks.

The estimate comes Tuesday as the U.N. health agency said the cost of containing the deadly virus has risen to nearly $1 billion since it was identified in March.

The unprecedented Ebola outbreak is believed to have killed more than 2,400 people across West Africa, with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea the hardest-hit countries.

President Barack Obama is expected to announce later Tuesday that the United States will be sending 3,000 American troops to help provide aid amid the crisis.

Still, Doctors Without Borders said again the global response is “dangerously behind.” Joanne Liu, president of the medical charity said more countries need to stand up and provide aid soon.