How many people have been infected? More than 6,500 people in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone have contracted Ebola since March, according to the World Health Organization, making this the biggest outbreak on record. More than 3,000 people have brutally died due to this virus.

What exactly is Ebola and how dangerous is it? Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever. Hemorrhagic means that is causes bleeding in outside and inside of the body. Early symptoms include fever, muscle weakness, sore throat and headaches. The Ebola virus mainly attacks the immune system but as the disease progresses it can impair the kidneys and liver

What actions is the US government taking? The US government has been trying to take primary action, for what we know right know the United States will send troops, material to build field hospitals, additional health care workers, community care kits and badly needed medical supplies.

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola outside of Africa during the ongoing epidemic, is being treated at a Dallas hospital. Sources says he is in a lot of pain and family and friends are saying that prayers will help. Officials are tight-lipped about how he contracted the virus or how he’s being treated, citing privacy concerns. The United States is currently trying to find out about all the people Eric Duncan came in contact with throughout his trip to and from Liberia. Eric Duncan later died on October 8.

Should we be worried about Ebola spreading throughout the US? Shortly after the news broke about the man in Dallas Tuesday evening, more than 50,000 tweets about Ebola flew through Twitter in a one-hour period, the majority of the tweets were panicked responses. Even though only one case of Ebola has been diagnosed in the United States should be worry? Especially for those who live in the Dallas area. Officials said that we should not worry.

“II. What Actions Are Taken by the U.S. Government When an Infectious Disease Outbreak Occurs?” II. What Actions Are Taken by the U.S. Government When an Infectious Disease Outbreak Occurs? Web. 7 Oct. 2014.

Christensen, Jen, and Kevin Liptak. “Obama: U.S. Ready to Take the Lead in Ebola Fight.” CNN. 16 Sept. 2014. Web.