The World Health Organization on Tuesday called on multiple countries to prepare for the virus as if it were a pandemic, and President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked Congress to authorize $2.5 billion in funds to stockpile protective equipment and develop vaccines.

These measures suggest world leaders are starting to take the outbreak more seriously, and that may give the world hope that it can stem the virus.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week: ”If we do well, we can avert any serious crisis, but if we squander the opportunity then we will have a serious problem on our hands.”