The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that more than 1,900 have died from the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The organisation are claiming that there have been 3,500 confirmed or probable cases in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

"The outbreaks are racing ahead of the control efforts in these countries," WHO chief Margaret Chan said. “This Ebola epidemic is the largest, and most severe, and most complex we have ever seen in the nearly 40-year history of this disease.” 

She also said it is "important NOT to misinform that people will die if they get Ebola." Chan claimed that chances of survival increases "if people come early for medical care."

More than 20,000 people could become infected with the deadly Ebola virus, the World Health Organisation has claimed. Nearly 40% of the total number of reported cases have occurred within the past three weeks.

Last week, in what amounted to be a bleak assessment of the disease, the WHO said it believed the virus was still being spread in a "substantial number of localities" across the continent.

It also expressed concern at the unprecedented number of health workers who have been killed while treating patients.