Ebola outbreak: Get up to speed with the latest developments

U.S. DEVELOPMENTS President cautiously optimistic President Barack Obama said a number of things made him "cautiously more optimistic" about the Ebola situation in the United States and around the world. Obama said he was encouraged that dozens of people who had initial contact with Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan did not get the virus. In addition, the two Americans who contracted Ebola outside and came to the United States for treatment were cured. He said he was pleased that both Nigeria and Senegal were Ebola free, CNN reports. "It gives you some sense that when it's caught early and where the public health infrastructure operates effectively, this outbreak can be stopped," Obama said. Obama thanks Dallas hospital workers The President thanked health care workers at the hospital in Dallas where patient Duncan died of Ebola and two nurses became infected with the virus earlier this month. In a telephone call Wednesday, Obama praised the Dallas workers' "unflagging dedication" and their "tireless efforts to treat these patients despite the difficult conditions." He said health workers nationwide are "absolutely indispensable."