Washington – US Secretary of State John Kerry issued an “urgent plea” Wednesday to all nations to boost their response to the fight against Ebola, warning there was no time to waste.

“More countries can and must step up,” Kerry told reporters after talks with his British counterpart Philip Hammond, warning there were “still not enough countries to be able to make a difference” as the world confronts the spread of the disease that has killed thousands in West Africa.

“Ebola is an urgent global crisis that demands an urgent global response,” Kerry said, displaying a series of slides showing efforts by individual nations, and highlighting how small countries had in some ways done more than their larger counterparts.

“There are additional needs that have to be met, in order for the global community to properly respond to this challenge and to make sure that we protect people in all of our countries.”

Hammond agreed, saying that the world could beat the Ebola crisis, which has killed some 3,439 people, according to the World Health Organization.

“If we get ahead of it, if we rise to the challenge, we can beat it,” Hammond said.

“We now need the wider international community to step up to the plate and deliver that resource, not just money but trained medical personnel on the ground… We all need to do more if we are to prevent a crisis becoming a global catastrophe.”

Kerry said there was a need for Ebola treatment units, health care workers, medical evacuation abilities, as well as non-medical support such as telecommunications, generators and incinerators.

“Now is the time for action, not words, and frankly there is no time to waste,” added Kerry.