Yorker News - Mali has confirmed a new case of the Ebola virus and said two more patients are being tested for the disease.

The government said in a statement Saturday that the patient who tested positive for Ebola has been quarantined and is receiving intensive treatment.

Mali is monitoring more than 300 people who had contact with Ebola patients, in an effort to limit the spread of the virus. Seven Ebola cases have been confirmed in the West African nation, and all of those patients, except the most recent case, have died.

On Friday, the WHO said the death toll in the Ebola epidemic had risen to 5,459 out of more than 15,000 cases. The cases are in eight countries, with the majority in three West African nations - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said Friday there has been some progress in battling the Ebola outbreak, but warned the fight is far from over.

Ban said new cases appear to be slowing in some areas where officials and health care workers have implemented what he called a "strong response strategy." However, he said cases are increasing in other regions.

Ban said the new chain of transmissions in Mali is a "cause of deep concern."

While Mali has been saying some 300 people are being monitored for Ebola exposure, the WHO puts the total at nearly 500.