WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, the President discussed the measures we are taking to respond to Ebola cases at home, while containing the epidemic at its source in West Africa. This week we continued to focus on domestic preparedness, with the creation of new CDC guidelines and the announcement of new travel measures ensuring all travelers from the three affected countries are directed to and screened at one of five airports. The President emphasized that its important to follow the facts, rather than fear, as New Yorkers did yesterday when they stuck to their daily routine. Ebola is not an easily transmitted disease, and America is leading the world in the fight to stamp it out in West Africa.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, October 25, 2014.

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House October 25, 2014

Hi everybody, this week, we remained focused on our fight against Ebola. In Dallas, dozens of family, friends and others who had been in close contact with the first patient, Mr. Duncan, were declared free of Ebolaa reminder that this disease is actually very hard to catch. Across Dallas, others being monitoredincluding health care workers who were most at riskwere also declared Ebola-free.

Two Americanspatients in Georgia and Nebraska who contracted the disease in West Africarecovered and were released from the hospital. The first of the two Dallas nurses who were diagnosedNina Phamwas declared Ebola free, and yesterday I was proud to welcome her to the Oval Office and give her a big hug. The other nurseAmber Vinsoncontinues to improve as well. And in Africa, the countries of Senegal and Nigeria were declared free of Ebolaa reminder that this disease can be contained and defeated.

In New York City, medical personnel moved quickly to isolate and care for the patient therea doctor who recently returned from West Africa. The city and state of New York have strong public health systems, and theyve been preparing for this possibility. Because of the steps weve taken in recent weeks, our CDC experts were already at the hospital, helping staff prepare for this kind of situation. Before the patient was even diagnosed, we deployed one of our new CDC rapid response teams. And Ive assured Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio that theyll have all the federal support they need as they go forward.

More broadly, this week we continued to step up our efforts across the country. New CDC guidelines and outreach is helping hospitals improve training and protect their health care workers. The Defense Departments new team of doctors, nurses and trainers will respond quickly if called upon to help.

New travel measures are now directing all travelers from the three affected countries in West Africa into five U.S. airports where were conducting additional screening. Starting this week, these travelers will be required to report their temperatures and any symptoms on a daily basisfor 21 days until were confident they dont have Ebola. Here at the White House, my new Ebola response coordinator is working to ensure a seamless response across the federal government. And we have been examining the protocols for protecting our brave health care workers, and, guided by the science, well continue to work with state and local officials to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and health of the American people.

In closing, I want to leave you with some basic facts. First, you cannot get Ebola easily. You cant get it through casual contact with someone. Remember, down in Dallas, even Mr. Duncans familywho lived with him and helped care for himeven they did not get Ebola. The only way you can get this disease is by coming into direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone with symptoms. Thats the science. Those are the facts.

Sadly, Mr. Duncan did not survive, and we continue to keep his family in our prayers. At the same time, its important to remember that of the seven Americans treated so far for Ebolathe five who contracted it in West Africa, plus the two nurses from Dallasall seven have survived. Let me say that againseven Americans treated; all seven survived. Ive had two of them in the Oval Office. And now were focused on making sure the patient in New York receives the best care as well.

Heres the bottom line. Patients can beat this disease. And we can beat this disease. But we have to stay vigilant. We have to work together at every levelfederal, state and local. And we have to keep leading the global response, because the best way to stop this disease, the best way to keep Americans safe, is to stop it at its sourcein West Africa.

And we have to be guided by the sciencewe have to be guided by the facts, not fear. Yesterday, New Yorkers showed us the way. They did what they do every dayjumping on buses, riding the subway, crowding into elevators, heading into work, gathering in parks. That spiritthat determination to carry onis part of what makes New York one of the great cities in the world. And thats the spirit all of us can draw upon, as Americans, as we meet this challenge together.