On Friday, the World Health Organization declared that the latest outbreak of Ebola is an international public health emergency as the number of deaths caused by the epidemic continues to soar in West Africa.

As of Wednesday, there were 961 deaths from the infectious virus, in addition to 1,779 reported cases. That number includes up to 150 health care workers who have also been infected by the disease. However, the tally doesn't comprise the number of infected people who decided to address the illness at home.

The most recent outbreak began in Guinea back in March and then spread to other West African countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia. Some cases also popped up in Nigeria.

According to WHO, the health care systems of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- three of the world's poorest countries -- lack basic infrastructure before the Ebola crisis hit. In addition, their hospitals are in disarray, their supplies are running low and medical professionals are abandoning their posts in fear.

"The outbreak is moving faster than we can control it," WHO director general said Margaret Chan said, according to the Wall Street Journal. "Countries affected to date simply do not have the capacity to manage an outbreak of this size and complexity on their own."

"I urge the international community to provide this support on the most urgent basis possible," she added, reports the Guardian.

As of now, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola, and the death rate stands around 50 percent.

Unlike in previous cases where the disease circulated in isolated communities in Africa, the disease has become widespread.

"The number keeps rising," Sierra Leone Red Cross spokesman Abubakar Tarawelly said. "It's getting too much for our volunteers."

Symptons of Ebola usually appear eight to 12 days after someone has been infected. 

"Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all unlikely exposures for the average traveller. Tourists are in any event advised to avoid all such contacts," WHO said.

"The possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries," a statement said. "A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola."