DHAKA: The head of the UN mission charged with fighting Ebola has told the BBC he does not yet have the resources necessary to defeat the deadly disease.

Tony Banbury said more help was urgently needed, despite significant contributions from Britain, China, Cuba and the US.

He was speaking after visiting the three nations worst hit by the virus - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The confirmed death toll is now 4,818, says the World Health Organization.

All but 27 of the deaths have been in the three West African nations.

Banbury was speaking at the UN headquarters for Ebola response in Ghana, which has not been affected by the epidemic but is near to the three worst-affected countries.

He told the BBC he did not have the capacity to defeat the disease. ‘It’s not here yet’.

At the same time he mentioned contributions from Britain, which opened a new Ebola centre in Sierra Leone on Wednesday.

Banbury said the US, China and Cuba which had all sent significant numbers of soldiers or medics.

On the ground in Sierra Leone, body collectors like Mariatu Kagbo face a difficult task.

BDST: 1614 HRS, NOV 06, 2014