African union dispatches medical teams to Ebola crisis

The African Union is to send medical support teams to the West African countries affected by Ebola for a six-month mission.

An Ebola outbreak that began in Guinea has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal, killing more than 2,000 people.

The hardest hit of those countries desperately need more healthcare and humanitarian workers to respond to the crisis.

The African Union is sending at least 100 people, including doctors and nurses, to support efforts to contain the outbreak.

The European Union promised €5m to fund the mission following an emergency meeting on Monday.

The teams will work in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.