Ottawa: Canada has promised to double its financial contribution to the United Nations' fight against Ebola in West Africa, the country's health minister announced Friday.

Ottawa will increase its aid to USD53 million, up from 30 million Canadian Dollars it had pledged last month, said Health Minister Rona Ambrose.

Ambrose said the pledge increase was in direct response to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's call for more robust assistance by the international community.

The Ebola virus has already killed more than 4,000 people, most in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Underfunded health systems in west Africa have been crippled by the disease, which has spiraled out of control and infected 7,400 people since the beginning of the year.