The News Minute | August 13, 2014 | 4:31pm IST

Abuja : An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) official has died of the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria, the West African regional bloc said in a statement, taking the total number of deaths in the country to three.

"The ECOWAS Commission announces with deep regret the passing of a staff member of its Lagos liaison office, Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, aged 36," MENA news agency quoted the statement issued Tuesday as saying.

"Abdulqudir, a protocol assistant, was among those who assisted the Liberian delegate to a regional meeting, Patrick Sawyer, who died from the Ebola virus disease at a Lagos hospital July 25, 2014."

The official had been quarantined since Sawyer was confirmed as having Ebola.

"The Commission wishes to use this opportunity to express its gratitude to Nigerian government authorities and others who contributed to managing the late official while under quarantine," it added.

Prior to the ECOWAS statement, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tuesday put the toll from the Ebola virus disease in West Africa at 1,013.

IANS