The death toll from the Ebola epidemic in west Africa has climbed above 2,000, the UN’s World Health Organisation said on Friday after a two-day crisis meeting in Geneva.

Results from safety trials for two prototype vaccines will be known in November, the WHO added.

Earlier Friday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon Moon set the goal of stopping the worst-ever outbreak of the disease within six to nine months.

The “next few weeks will be crucial,” Ban said in New York, adding that this was an “international rescue call.”