CDC hails ‘signs of progress’ against Ebola

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hailing “preliminary signs of progress” in its fight against Ebola, according to new reports Friday.

Two counties in Liberia are reporting significantly fewer cases, which the CDC said could be a sign that U.S. efforts are helping to slow the epidemic.

{mosads}Still, the agency said it needs far more resources to keep up the trend and continue to isolate and treat new cases.

“In recent weeks, there has been approximately one new outbreak or cluster per day,” the report states. At least five cases were reported in Mali this week, which has not previously reported any cases.

The CDC is also beginning to shift its strategy as it sees smaller outbreaks in “widely scattered, remote areas,” to ensure that the cases do not spread.

The Ebola death toll exceeded 5,000 this week, with more than 14,000 cases reported, according to the World Health Organization.

White House officials — including CDC Director Tom Frieden, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson — also pointed to signs of progress against Ebola at two congressional hearings this week.

The Obama administration has requested a whopping $6.18 billion in emergency aid, though a large portion would bolster the country’s efforts in preventing Ebola domestically.