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French President Francois Hollande is to arrive in Guinea, becoming the first Western leader to visit a nation hit hard by the deadly Ebola virus, the BBC reported.

He will deliver "a message of solidarity" to Guinea, where more than 1,200 have died of Ebola.

France has pledged 100m euros (£79m; $125m) to help tackle the disease by opening several care centres in Guinea.

The outbreak was now "stable" in the West African country, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week.

There were still some flare ups in the south-east, but things were improving in other prefectures, WHO co-ordinator Dr Guenael Rodier told the BBC.

More than 5,400 people have died in the latest outbreak, with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia the worst hit.

President Hollande is expected to arrive in Guinea's capital Conakry later on Friday - the first Western head of state to visit the country since the first cases of the disease in March.

During his one-day visit, he will tour healthcare centres and take part in round-table discussions on Ebola, according to the AFP news agency.

In addition, Paris plans to send mobile health clinics to Guinea and fund 200 beds for Ebola patients.

After Guinea, President Hollande will fly to Senegal to take part in a summit of French-speaking leaders.