U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the Ebola crisis in West Africa is as serious as the threat that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses because it is fast becoming out-of-control.

Public health officials of Tennessee are set to meet on Tuesday with people from West Africa who now reside in Nashville to impart important information. President Barack Obama is also expected to disclose new strategies to halt the spread of the deadly virus, USA Today detailed.

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On Monday, Alexander described the Ebola situation as an "emergency" that needs to be recognized and resolved with other nations.

"This is an instance where we should be running toward the burning flames with our fireproof suits on," the Republican senator said.

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-Brentwood), together with other House committee leaders, wrote to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to ask about the Ebola risk and what should be done about it.

Peter Gailah of the Association of Liberians in Tennessee called on Nashville residents to contribute anything they can to help address the Ebola crisis. Food, hospital beds, and other health necessities are welcome, Gailah said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, the health system of Liberia cannot cope anymore with fast spread of Ebola and there are no hospital beds available for new patients in the country. They would need around US$600 million to fuel an effective response against the outbreak, WHO added.

So far, Gailah's group managed to raise $700 for the cause.

Health workers are still in dire need of more protective equipment and appropriate training in handling the infection, WHO said.

Another concern is the risk that the outbreak will cause a food crisis, Gailah said. The Liberians, who usually shop for food daily at the market, are now afraid to go outside.

The meeting on Tuesday has two purposes: First, it is designed to help people from West Africa share accurate information to their families back home, according to Tennessee epidemiologist Dr. Tim F. Jones. Second, it will teach health officials new ways to improve their outreach efforts.

When an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, Americans were able to respond quickly and appropriately but were unable to do so when the Ebola crisis hit West Africa. This was probably because of lack of knowledge on the right interventions, the epidemiologist said.

The response to the Ebola outbreak would require a much higher degree of specialized training and more sophisticated equipment, Jones added.

TagsLamar Alexander, West Africa, ISIL, threat