Freetown, September 29 (RHC)-- Liberia's chief medical authority has quarantined herself following her deputy's death from the deadly Ebola disease.

On Saturday, Bernice Dahn, a deputy health minister, put herself in isolation for 21 days for the full incubation period of the disease. "Of course we made the rule, so I am home for 21 days," Dahn said, adding: "I did it on my own. I told my office staff to stay at home for the 21 days."

Liberia is the hardest hit by the virus among West African countries, with 3,458 people infected and 1,830 killed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency has reported that at least 3,091 out of 6,574 probable, suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola died based on the data received up to September 23rd.

The outbreak, which began in Guinea, has ravaged neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. Nigeria and Senegal have also confirmed cases of Ebola, but no new cases or deaths have been reported in the two countries over the past few weeks. The WHO says the existing hospital capacity for Ebola patients in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as well as Nigeria is well short of the needed mark.

Ebola is a form of hemorrhagic fever whose symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, feces or sweat. It can also be spread through sexual contact or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

It remains one of the world's most virulent diseases, which kill up to 90 percent of those who fall sick.