Bill Gates is optimistic about the world's fight against the Ebola epidemic taking over West Africa.
"I think it is quite impressive what's being pulled together," Gates said at a Washington D.C.-based discussion hosted by the website Politico, referencing international efforts to fight the epidemic. "I do think we can get it under control."
Earlier this month, Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, criticized the world of not acting fast enough on the largest documented Ebola outbreak in history.
"In the absence of all this aid that's proposed but not yet provided, it seems like the epidemic is on a growth curve, not a downward curve, with more and more cases appearing every week, and more and more deaths," Michaud tells National Journal. "It's hard to see far out in the future, but if current trends continue and there's no change in the way the world, region, countries are intervening, it's hard see how it won't just increase, creating greater disruption."
However, Gates wouldn't agree.
"Was there some other government who took decisive action before we did? Was the data really clear?" Gates asked at the discussion. "Was there a CDC equivalent who flew in and personally toured [the affected countries]? Is there someone else who's going to do the research to give us the vaccine that will be key to making sure this outbreak doesn't happen again? The U.S is the leader on being able to move into areas like this and being able to help out."
The philanthropist strongly believes that if the world came together to set up more treatment centers and train more health workers the Ebola virus could be defeated.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently donated $50 million to help the epidemic in West Africa, as HNGN previously reported.
Gates, who was listed by Forbes yesterday as the richest person in the world for the 21st year in a row, prefers to put his money towards global health issues than politics.
Despite his big donation to the Ebola epidemic, he warns not to expect to see a big donation in politics during the upcoming elections.
"I don't think my backing, putting a lot of money into political contributions, is a way I'm going to try and improve the world," Gates tells CNN. "I just don't choose to pour money into that type of vehicle."
