MONROVIA, Liberia, July 1 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization reported that as of Monday, 467 people had died from the Ebola virus in West Africa.
A total of 759 people have been infected in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with the largest number concentrated in Guinea.
The Ebola virus is spread by close contact and kills up to 90 percent of its victims. There is no known cure or antivirus.
"Based on epidemiological analysis conducted by WHO, three major factors are contributing to patterns of transmission, which are currently responsible for the continuous propagation of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the sub-region. These factors include transmission of EVD in rural communities, facilitated by strong cultural practices and traditional beliefs; transmission of EVD in densely populated peri-urban areas of Conakry in Guinea and Monrovia in Liberia; and cross-border transmission of EVD along the border areas of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where commercial and social activities continue among the border areas of these countries."
Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, described the epidemic in June as "out of control" and requiring additional resources to meet care and containment needs.
WHO said that a meeting is scheduled for July 2 and 3 in Accra to discuss the deployment of additional resources and personnel to infected areas.
