( CNN ) -- The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is a health crisis of massive proportions -- and one that keeps on growing . So far , the World Health Organization estimates nearly 4,300 people have likely been infected in the latest outbreak , with almost 2,300 deaths . With no proven vaccine or treatment currently available , and a case fatality rate of up to 90 % , alarm bells are ringing across the globe . How worried should the United States be ? And how can we help respond to this crisis ? It 's true that while Ebola is deadly and this outbreak is historic , the risk of it spreading to the United States is small . We have an advanced public health infrastructure that should be well placed to quickly screen for the virus and safely manage patients with Ebola . In addition , our health care providers have the training and equipment needed to control infections and protect themselves and others when caring for Ebola patients . However , a small risk does not mean there is no risk at all . With this in mind , the single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves is stopping the Ebola outbreak in West Africa before it can spread to other parts of the world . In July , I visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , our nation 's health protection agency , and met with its director , Tom Frieden , to learn more about how the CDC is working with other U.S. agencies , the WHO , and domestic and international partners to coordinate Ebola assistance and disease control activities in West Africa . During that visit , we toured the CDC 's command center for coordinating emergency responses to this outbreak . Last week , I met with Frieden again for an update , and to discuss his recent visit to the region . The CDC has deployed teams of public health experts to West Africa to assist with disease surveillance , health education , contact tracing , and database management . On Tuesday , I will participate in a Senate hearing on the response to this health crisis . One of the witnesses will be Dr. Kent Brantly , an American missionary physician who was successfully treated for Ebola in the United States . Brantly was given an experimental treatment and a blood transfusion from an Ebola survivor before being flown to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta . It seems like a promising breakthrough , and I look forward to learning more at the hearing . The seriousness of the current outbreak has been compounded by a number of factors that together have made this the worst outbreak of the disease in history . As the epidemic cripples already weak public health systems in the region , doctors on the ground are dealing with basic problems such as limited staff , little equipment , and poor facilities . This has made disease surveillance , isolation and effective care virtually impossible . Additionally , high levels of public mistrust and fear about the disease and the response have resulted in African patients breaking out of hospitals and communities hiding infected individuals . Cross-border travel between the three primary affected countries has also caused Ebola to spread quickly . All of these factors have made this outbreak a particular challenge to contain , especially in remote , rural regions of West Africa . Experimental treatments for individuals infected with Ebola are currently being developed , but they have not yet been tested for effectiveness and safety in clinical trials . It would , of course , be advantageous to have a proven vaccine or drug therapy to tackle Ebola , but in the meantime , basic care should be provided to significantly help those infected and prevent the spread of disease . Such steps can include providing and reinforcing a trained medical workforce to coordinate activities on the ground in Africa , educating local communities about Ebola and how it is transmitted , supplying basic medical equipment like masks and gloves , and assisting the governments in West Africa to strengthen their public health systems and emergency response infrastructures . Ebola can be stopped , but to do so requires both effective containment action and basic medical care . With the right international response and coordination , appropriate patient care can be provided efficiently and the spread of infection can be halted . Ebola does not have to be a death sentence , but leadership and global cooperation are required to meet this serious challenge .
World Health Organization : Ebola virus has case fatality rate of up to 90 % . Small risk to West Africa does not mean no risk , argues Sen. Tom Frieden . Moran : Public mistrust and poor facilities in U.S. have compounded crisis . World Health Organization : holding hearing Tuesday to discuss `` worst outbreak in history ''