The death toll from the Ebola virus is steadily rising in West Africa with officials revealing on Monday that the death rate has reached as high as 467.

The Ebola outbreak is already considered the largest and deadliest ever and, out of 759 cases, over half of the victims have died from the fatal disease.

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Authorities have seen a 17 percent increase in deaths with a 20 percent leap in cases within just a week, creating an added urgency to the World Health Organization's (WHO) struggle to control the outbreak.

In reaction to the spread of the deadly disease, Liberian officials have tried the approach of warning citizens that any person caught harboring a suspected Ebola victim could face prosecution. According to reports, some patients have been removed from health facilities by families and faith healers who believe that special prayers and traditional medicine will cure them. 

"It is illegal under our public health law to expose the people to health hazard such as Ebola," Liberian President Sirleaf told news sources on Tuesday.

"Let this warning go out, anyone found or reported to be holding suspected Ebola cases in homes or prayer houses will be prosecuted under the laws of Liberia," she continued.

According to WHO, several contributin factors, including burial customs and activity along borders of countries such as Guinea and Liberia, have caused a spike in the virus' spread.

West Africa is home to some of the poorest countries in the world and the widespread Ebola outbreak has left many nations struggling to grapple with the globe's deadliest and most contagious disease despite poor infrastructures and weak health systems.

A WHO statement specified that tightening control along the borders of the three most affected countries will go a long way towards containing the disease. 

TagsEbola Virus, West Africa, WHO, outbreak