Washington ( CNN ) -- Using some of the most dramatic language yet by a U.S. official , Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday called on world leaders to contribute far more to the international Ebola response . Kerry warned that , absent a concerted effort by the international community , `` Ebola has the potential to become a scourge like HIV or polio that we will end up fighting -- all of us -- for decades . '' The secretary made these remarks to a room of foreign ambassadors at the State Department in Washington . He called on them to use their influence to bring stronger commitments to the Ebola fight , which has plagued Sierra Leone , Guinea and Liberia for weeks , and has spread as far as the United States and Europe . Rand Paul : Ebola is `` not like AIDS '' `` There is no country that is exempt from being able to do something to be able to contribute to this effort and help make a difference , '' Kerry said . `` And everything we do depends on how we coordinate our efforts as partners in how we contribute together . '' Kerry praised a handful of countries for their contributions to the effort , including Cuba -- a historical foe of the U.S , that more often finds itself under criticism by the State Department . `` Cuba , a country of just 11 million people , has sent 165 health professionals , '' Kerry noted in his remarks , `` and it plans to send nearly 300 more . '' The United Nations has called on the international community to give $ 1 billion to the Ebola response effort over the next six months . So far , Kerry noted , only about a third of that need has been met . `` We live in a world of a lot of close calls , tough decisions on a daily basis -- difficult and contentious issues where you can have an honest disagreement about what the best course of action is , or about what the facts are , or the results of your decision may be , '' Kerry conceded , adding , `` Ebola is not one of them . '' So far , more than 4,000 people have died from the epidemic in West Africa . The World Health Organization estimates that there will be between 5,000 and 10,000 new Ebola cases per week there by the first week of December . CDC director on Ebola : 'Only thing like this has been AIDS '
Kerry spoke at the State Department on Friday to a group of foreign ambassadors . The U.S. has been pushing for an international conference in Geneva that would bring together all parties involved with Syria's civil war -- including Russia, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others -- as well as representatives from Kerry said `` Ebola has the potential to become a scourge like HIV or polio '' .