The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has welcomed today's announcement that the EU will intensify efforts to tackle the Ebola virus in West Africa.

It follows a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg earlier today where it was agreed that the EU will guarantee appropriate healthcare for European medical staff working in west Africa to help fight Ebola. EU foreign ministers called for "united, coordinated, and increased efforts" in fighting the virus which has killed over 4,500 people in west Africa in the last 10 months.

Flanagan says today’s meeting is an important step in efforts to tackle the spread of the virus.

Flanagan says Ireland will continue to work closely with EU partners, as well as the United Nations, to ensure a coordinated and robust response in the tackling of the virus.

"Today’s meeting is an important step in our efforts to tackle the Ebola virus in West Africa," Flanagan said.

"Today’s meeting was about focusing on the EU Member States working together in a coordinated way to pool our respective strengths.

Flanagan said that a "united and coordinated response is essential" to effectively fight Ebola.

Ireland has provided €16m in aid, through direct donations and NGOs and Flanagan said the Irish Embassy in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown "is very active in helping to coordinate the local effort."

Nigeria today announced it is Ebola free after more than six weeks without a death. There were just eight confirmed deaths from Ebola in Nigeria since the outbreak began.