Ebola Outbreak Could Affect 1.4 Million People, Says CDC Report

An alarming worst-case scenario report published by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa could kill 1.4 million people by the end of January if current trends continue.

Although the CDC report proved daunting, the health organization was quick to note that its recent worst case scenario estimate did not include the aid prepared by the U.S. and other countries since August to help West Africa combat the virus. The purpose of the report, according to CDC Director Tom Frieden, is to show the world that time is of the essence in battling the current Ebola crisis.

"A surge now can break the back of the epidemic, but delay is extremely costly," Frieden said, according to The Washington Post.

The World Health Organization said back in August that the current Ebola crisis is being "vastly underestimated," as many people dying of the virus live in rural areas and their infection and death is not reported nationally. The CDC echoed this sentiment in its recent report, saying that the actual number of deaths from the recent outbreak could be as much as 2.5 times higher than it is.

"The outbreak is expected to continue for some time," the WHO said in a statement back in August.

"Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak."

The current death toll for the outbreak sits at 2,800 deaths, with an estimated 5,800 cases of those infected by the virus.