Ebola is threatening Liberia's 'national existence' says defence minister… and now the first suspected case of the disease reaches Italy

Liberia's national existence is 'seriously threatened' by the deadly Ebola virus that is 'spreading like wild fire and devouring everything in its path,' the country's national defence minister told the United Nations Security Council.

'Liberia is facing a serious threat to its national existence. The deadly Ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our State,' said Liberian Minister of National Defense Brownie Samukai.

'It is now spreading like wild fire, devouring everything in its path. The already weak health infrastructure of the country has been overwhelmed,' he told the 15-member council, adding that the initial international response was 'less than robust.'

Meanwhile, it's thought that Ebola has now reached Italy, after a Nigerian woman resident there was hospitalised on Tuesday with symptoms consistent with the virus.