West African health ministers have gathered in Ghana to discuss how to deal with the world's worst outbreak of the Ebola virus.
Paul, what should we know about this deadly disease?
Ebola is highly contagious and it kills up to 90 percent of infected patients with paralyzing fevers.
It's transmitted through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of both animals and humans.
There is no cure and health officials say the current epidemic is showing no signs of slowing.
Meeting on the sidelines of a global forum in Accra, health ministers from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia called on international agencies for much needed medicine and other supplies.
But those working on the front lines in the fight against the virus say the biggest challenges have been fear and lack of understanding, with many patient fleeing hospitals and going into hiding.
"We have challenges that are not so much related to institutional capacity but they are serious to pose a serious threat to our campaign against the disease and these are issues like ignorance, illiteracy, denial and cultural tradition and to some extent even some elements of politicization."
The World Health Organization says the impact of this outbreak has been phenomenal in terms of loss of human life and poses greater risks for the social and economic health of the continent.
The outbreak has so far killed over 400 people since February, making it the largest and deadliest ever.
