Ebola crisis: Australia's treatment centre in Sierra Leone to open beds gradually

The Federal Government says the Australian-managed Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone will open tonight.

In a statement, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is now managing the centre following the completion of construction by the United Kingdom.

"Patients will be referred to the centre and in line with best practice it will commence operations with five beds," Ms Bishop said.

"Operations will be gradually scaled up to full capacity at 100 beds under strict guidelines to ensure infection control procedures are working effectively and trained staff and safety practices are in place."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Australia would commit $20 million to the treatment centre last month, after criticism the Government had not done enough to respond to the humanitarian crisis.

Ms Bishop said Australia would increase its support for the establishment of the centre, bringing the current contribution for the centre to $25 million.

"I welcome New Zealand's contribution to the facility of NZ$2 million. Australia's total contribution to the Ebola response is now at $45 million," she said.

A total of 6,583 people have died from the disease in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Sierra Leone has overtaken Liberia to report the most cases of the killer virus, recording 1,319 new infections in the last three weeks.

"Ebola transmission rates remain very high in Sierra Leone, especially in and around Freetown, where the Hastings Airfield Ebola Treatment Centre is located," Ms Bishop said.

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Ebola crisis: Australia's treatment centre in Sierra Leone to open beds gradually