The International Monetary Fund has fast-tracked $US130 million ($A140.65 million) in aid to fight the Ebola epidemic in the worst-hit countries in West Africa.
The IMF executive board approved the financial assistance "in an expedited decision" to help Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone respond to the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak that has killed around 3000 since December, it said in a statement.
The financing, requested by the three governments, will be made available immediately to Guinea ($US41 million), Liberia ($US49 million) and Sierra Leone ($US40 million).
"The Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has already cost too many lives," IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said in the statement.
"The IMF is working hard with the authorities of the affected countries and their development partners to ensure that the outbreak is quickly brought under control and to assist the economic rebuilding effort that must follow."
The 188-nation IMF said the emergency aid supplements its existing programs in the three countries. The new funds aim to help cover some immediate financing needs, estimated at $100 million for each country.
Lagarde called on other potential donors to cover the shortfalls.
"The rapidly deteriorating health situation underscores the urgency of this support," she said.
The IMF board also approved 25 per cent increases of the quotas of the three countries, increasing their ability to access IMF financing.
With the viral epidemic still raging, the IMF said preliminary projections show growth could plunge at least 3-3.5 per cent in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and about 1.5 per cent in Guinea.
IMF Africa director Antoinette Sayeh said neighbouring countries were starting to feel the pinch.
"There's no question that, in some neighbouring countries, we're seeing some downturn - (for example) in the tourism sector in Gambia and in Senegal, because of some form of panicking attitude," Sayeh said.
World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly have pledged fresh assistance.
On Thursday, the World Bank raised its emergency aid in the anti-Ebola campaign by $170 million to $400 million.
The bank said the fresh financing for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will go toward expanding the health-care workforce and buying supplies for care and treatment.
