If efforts to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa are not accelerated soon, the world could be losing its battle against the deadly disease. Nations across the globe are urged to step up and employ all efforts possible.

The latest figures for the epidemic include a total of 3,069 cases, and 1,552 deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the deadly disease could afflict over 20,000 people. Ebola causes symptoms including high fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, muscle pain and weakness.

The spread of the disease has become extremely aggressive, with effective, speedy containment being achieved only in remote locations, not in the condensed urban centers that have now been affected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. reported on his recent visits to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and described an alarming situation that begs for increased flexibility, speed and teamwork to fight the epidemic.

“What I saw was a continuing need to strengthen the health care system by increasing the number of treatment centers, providers, access to supplies; as well as a need to improve clinical management by handwashing, infection control, and other methods,” said Dr. Frieden in a statement.

“The window of opportunity to stop Ebola from spreading widely throughout Africa and becoming a global threat for years to come is closing, but it is not yet closed,” Dr. Frieden added.  “If the world takes the immediate steps– which are direct requests from the front lines of the outbreak and the Presidents of each country – we can still turn this around.”

Putting an end to the devastation that Ebola has caused cannot be done by one nation alone. Dr. Frieden implores all nations of the world to come together as soon as possible to help eradicate the deadly effects of Ebola.