DHAKA: President Barack Obama has called the West Africa Ebola outbreak "a threat to global security" as he announced a larger US role in fighting the virus.

"The world is looking to the United States," Mr Obama said, but added the outbreak required a "global response".

The measures announced included ordering 3,000 US troops to the region and building new healthcare facilities, reports BBC.

Ebola has killed 2,461 people this year, about half of those infected, the World Health Organization said.

The announcement comes as UN officials have called the outbreak a health crisis "unparalleled in modern times".

The spread of the disease means the funds needed to fight the outbreak have increased 10-fold in the past month, the UN's Ebola co-ordinator said, saying it needs $1bn (£614m) to fight the outbreak.

BDST: 0832 HRS, SEP 17, 2014