Obama praises Ebola progress, but 'job is not yet done'

WASHINGTON — President Obama welcomed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the White House Friday to commend her for her work in battling Ebola in West Africa, but cautioned that the world should not become complacent with the progress made so far.

Both leaders cautioned that the battle against Ebola is not over.

"Our job is not yet done," Obama said, saying Guinea and Sierra Leone that are still "somewhat behind."

"We are not there yet," Sirleaf echoed.

As of Feb. 22, there had been 3,153 confirmed cases of Ebola in Liberia, and twice as many suspected cases. But the World Health Organization said that transmission of the disease is now at "very low levels," with only one new case in the previous week. But Guinea and Sierra Leone had 98 new cases during the same time week, as steep declines have slowed and unsafe burial practices, which can spread the disease, remain common.

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Sirleaf thanked Obama and "the American people in general" for their help in fighting the outbreak.

"We know that there was pressure here to be able to stop any travelling for people from Liberia. But I want to thank you for standing firm in resisting that pressure, and rallying the American people to see this for what it is," she said. "

We know that there was fear in this country and we understood that because we were fearful ourselves. We did not know how to confront this unknown enemy."

Obama, who resisted congressional pressure to halt travel from west Africa into the United States last year, held up Liberia up as an example of the gains that can be made with international cooperation.

"What is extraordinary, because of President Sirleaf's leadership, because of the heroism of so many people in Liberia and because of the actions of the United States and also the international community, we have made extraordinary strides," Obama said, noting that new cases are now down 95% from their peak.

"Normal life is beginning to return to Liberia. Children are beginning to go back to school. People are beginning to go back to soccer matches. Businesses have reopened," Obama said.

The U.S. military, which is winding down its deployment to West Africa, "made a critical difference," she said. The Pentagon is handing off responsibility for the logistical operations supporting the public health efforts to civilian officials and non-governmental organizations.

Obama pledged continued assistance to the region to "make sure we are not complacent so long there is even one case of Ebola remaining."

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