U.S. on highest-level alert over Ebola outbreak

WASHINGTON: The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday he has activated the level of the agency's response to the West African Ebola outbreak to its highest alert status.

"I have activated the CDC Emergency Operation Center at level one for this outbreak. This is our highest level of response," CDC Director Tom Frieden told a congressional hearing. "It doesn't mean that there's an increased risk to Americans, but it does mean that we are taking an extensive effort to do everything we can to stop the outbreaks."