MOSCOW, September 18 (RIA Novosti) -The United Nations (UN) plans to create a special mission to fight the deadly Ebola virus, currently spreading in Western Africa, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said on Thursday, as cited by Agence France-Presse.
"The single strategic objective and purpose of the mission will be to work with others to stop the Ebola outbreak," Ban said in a letter to the UN Security Council.
The mission's headquarters will be located in the disease-ridden region, but not in the three most affected countries, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, where the country offices will be established.
The UN also plans to create a fund to mobilize contributions. According to the UN Secretary General's estimates, up to $1 billion would be needed to successfully fight the spread of the deadly disease.
According to the figures, released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, the current Ebola outbreak has already infected 5335 people in West Africa, killing 2622 of them
The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissue of infected animals or people. There is no officially approved medication for the disease, and experts claim prevention is the only cure. Several countries, including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan are currently working on vaccines, with the first live vaccine trial commencing at Oxford University Wednesday.
