"The numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak" - reports World Health Organization on an earlier assessment based on its quarters that oversee the Ebola pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), responsible for the monitoring of most communicable diseases, speaks the same: the numbers are increasing rapidly, despite the individual and cooperative efforts of health organizations worldwide.

In an interview with CBS News, Director of CDC-US Dr. Tom Frieden said that the Ebola virus is "spiraling out of control". His statement is clearly supported by WHO's figures which lists 3,069 suspected and confirmed cases, and 1,552 deaths as of August 28. 

CBS News has also reported earlier that Liberia has the greatest number of cases, with 1,378 suspected and confirmed cases and 694 deaths. With these data, alarm is felt all throughout the country, making the government impose control measures such as quarantining and nighttime curfews. The orders were given by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in mid-August.

Although communicable, the Ebola virus has not always spread from country to country. In the most recent situation assessment of the WHO, through a virological analysis report, it was revealed that the DRC situation is a "distinct and independent event, with no relationship to the outbreak in west Africa."

In addition, the organization said "the virus in the Boende district is definitely not derived from the virus strain currently circulating in West Africa," according to the Gabon report. These analyses rule out the possibility of viral transmission from West to Central Africa.

This points to a spread which may have started out to be sporadic - a few cases in small isolated localities that eventually went big, and caused worldwide epidemic.

A report by The Daily Beast recalls a situation in 2003 when the Ebola virus infected a population of western lowland gorillas in Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo. From 380 apes, only 40 remained.

It was also during the same year when humans were first tested with Ebola vaccines. At this point in time, fruit bats are seen to be the virus' reservoirs.

Another issue that complicates treatment is the virus' presentation of vague symptoms. Web MD breaks down signs needing observation which include high fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, weakness, stomach pain, and lack of appetite.

Is the situation hopeless indeed? CDC Director Frieden says no. "The countries are engaged, they're willing to stop it. They need the world to work with them. This isn't just these countries' problems, it's a global problem."

Medications are also on their way, with Reuters listing some of the most well-known potentials like ZMapp, TKM-Ebola, AVI-7537, favipiravir, selective estrogen receptor modulators (clomiphene and toremifene), BCX-4430 and ST-383.