Breaking: World Health Organization says 50 new Ebola cases and 25 deaths reported in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea since July 3

The death toll from Ebola has risen to 518, as the deadly virus continues to spread. The World Health Organisation said 50 new cases and 25 deaths had been reported in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea since July 3.

UN agency said that the latest figures from health ministries in the three countries showed a total of 844 cases including 518 deaths in the epidemic that began in February. Guinea's ministry reported two deaths since July 3, but no new cases in the past week, the WHO said, calling the situation in the affected region of West Africa a "mixed picture".

Sierra Leone accounted for 34 of the new cases and 14 deaths, while Liberia reported 16 new cases and 9 deaths, it said, adding: "These numbers indicate that active viral transmission continues in the community."