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Madam Kristalina Georgieva, European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, has said the EU is stepping up efforts to contain the spread of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and assist those affected by the deadly virus. A statement issued from the European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, said the Commission had increased its funding for immediate health operations, experts and risk assessments to �1.1 million, and is contributing medical equipment to help accelerate diagnosis. "Acting rapidly is crucial. We are reinforcing our support to partner organizations in Guinea and neighboring countries, to ensure urgently needed healthcare to those hit by the epidemic, and to stop it from further expanding," it said. The statement said the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response as well as the EU Commissioner for Development, Mr Andris Piebalgs, had also commented that: �The European Commission has been mobilizing experts and equipment at short notice to provide quick help on the ground adding �Good coordination is key in the international response to this outbreak and this is why we are also setting up a network of EU and African health institutes to exchange know-how in tackling this terrible disease.� It said. According to the statement, following a commitment of �500 000 from last week, the Commission increased its assistance to �1.1to help the affected communities in Guinea and neighboring countries. �These new funds will allow M�decins Sans Fronti�res to scale up the on-going interventions in the field of clinical management such as the isolation of patients and Psychosocial support, the tracing of suspected cases and the training and supply of personal protective equipment for health workers� it added. �Furthermore, the new funds will support the World Health Organization (WHO) in ensuring the epidemiological surveillance and providing medical supplies, equipment, transport logistics and health personnel� the statement noted. It said three humanitarian experts from the Commission have been sent to Conakry and Monrovia to monitor the situation on the ground and liaise with local authorities and partners. The statement noted, however, that the EU was closely following the latest developments with its Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Ebola virus was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan in 1976, several outbreaks of this viral hemorrhagic fever have been reported in East and Central Africa, but not in West Africa. Highly contagious, human to human transmission of Ebola occurs by simple contact with blood and body fluids. No vaccine or treatment is yet available for this pathogen, one of the world�s most lethal with a case fatality rate of up to 90% depending on the strain. �To date, 157 suspected cases including 101 deaths have been reported in Guinea and 21 suspected cases in Liberia, out of which 10 resulted lethal� the statement concluded.