Liberian president 'a little bit concerned' about U.S. Ebola quarantine 'overreaction'

Although Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says she doesn't think American health workers are going to be dissuaded from coming to West Africa to treat Ebola patients, she is "a little bit concerned" over quarantines that are "an overreaction."

In an interview with NBC News' Chris Jansing on Tuesday, Johnson Sirleaf also said she understands the fears people have of the disease, but "fear can be overcome with the right messaging from leaders."

The World Health Organization says that more than 4,600 cases of Ebola have been recorded in Liberia, which is almost half of all worldwide cases. More than 2,700 of those patients have died.

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Johnson Sirleaf told Jansing that her country is making progress in the fight against Ebola, with 7,000 Liberians who were in contact with an infected person now under the watch of "disease detectives." Currently, 17 specialized Ebola treatment units and 600 community care centers are under construction, Johnson Sirleaf said, adding, "We feel a little bit confident that we're now beating the disease, but we also remain cautious that it's still with us, and we have a long way to go."