The Ebola virus has killed five people out of 15 confirmed cases in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health said on Monday.

"As of now, I can authoritatively tell you that we have documented 15 confirmed cases out of 36 suspected cases and of the 15 confirmed cases we have documented five deaths," said Idriss Tunis, the director of communications and information in the Ministry of Health, to reporters.

He maintained that three of the deceased died in the health facility and the other two in the community.

The 15 confirmed cases are from the Kailahun district, with 14 from Kissy Teng and one from Daru, all in the east of Sierra Leone.

"We have intensified public education and sensitization for the people to understand the gravity of the outbreak and be alert to prevent and contain the spread of the disease," said Tunis.