GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization issued an update Wednesday regarding the deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.
The death toll from the outbreak that began in March, WHO noted Wednesday, is nearing 1,000.
As of August 4, a total of 932 people have died of confirmed, probable, and suspected Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
"The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 495 cases (351 confirmed, 133 probable, and 11 suspected), including 363 deaths; Liberia, 516 cases (143 confirmed, 252 probable, and 121 suspected), including 282 deaths; Nigeria, 9 cases (0 confirmed, 2 probable, and 7 suspected), including 1 death; and Sierra Leone, 691 cases (576 confirmed, 49 probable, and 66 suspected), including 286 deaths."
On Wednesday, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health reported that it is investigating the death of a businessman suspected of contracting Ebola during a recent trip to Sierra Leone.
The U.N. has convened an emergency meeting on Ebola to determine whether the outbreak is an international health emergency.
The Ebola virus is spread by close contact and typically kills up to 90 percent of its victims. There is no known cure or antivirus.
