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The death toll from the current Ebola outbreak has reached 7,693. As many as 19,695 are infected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

These cases were reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, TASS reported.

The most serious situation is reported from Liberia, with 3,384 deaths. Sierra Leone has the biggest number of infected - 9,203. In Guinea, 1,654 deaths and 2,630 cases are registered.

The number of Ebola deaths in these three countries rose by 120 since December 24.

The World Health Organization describes Ebola virus disease /formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever/ as “a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%.” Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days. There is no known cure or vaccine for the disease. The only treatment offered is “supportive intensive care.”