The CDC report and the article present both worst-case and best-case scenarios for Liberia and Sierra Leone. 1.4M is worst-case (no intervention) and "almost ended" is best-case ("If, by late December 2014, approximately 70% of patients were placed either in ETUs or home or in a community setting such that there is a reduced risk for disease transmission [...] then the epidemic in both countries would almost be ended by January 20, 2015").
The CDC report and the article present both worst-case and best-case scenarios for Liberia and Sierra Leone. 1.4M is worst-case (no intervention) and "almost ended" is best-case ("If, by late December 2014, approximately 70% of patients were placed either in ETUs or home or in a community setting such that there is a reduced risk for disease transmission [...] then the epidemic in both countries would almost be ended by January 20, 2015").