More than £1.6 million has been raised in Scotland to help aid teams fight Ebola in west Africa.

The money has allowed the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to reach eight million people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and surrounding countries with medicines, food and information campaigns on the disease.

Almost 5,000 people have died and about 13,000 have been infected with Ebola since the start of the year, with the true numbers feared to be up to three times higher, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Infection rates in Sierra Leone and Liberia continue to grow in the deadliest outbreak since the disease was discovered in 1976.

The money raised in Scotland is part of £20 million raised so far across the UK in a DEC appeal and includes £5 million in government matched funding.

David Miller, chair of the DEC Ebola Crisis appeal in Scotland, said: "The response of people in Scotland, and indeed throughout the UK, has been absolutely fantastic.

"Once again, people have demonstrated their great generosity. The DEC is extremely grateful for the kindness donors have shown in supporting our unprecedented appeal for the Ebola crisis and can only say 'thank you'.

"Our member agencies have already done a great deal to help stop the spread of the virus and support those caught up in the crisis, but there is still so much more to do."

The money raised has helped to get treatment for some of the people infected, test people for the disease, train volunteers and support survivors and the families of victims.

Dr Roger Alcock, who works at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, is travelling to Port Loko in Sierra Leone to help with the relief effort.

The doctor was previously chief medic with Raleigh International in Namibia and has worked as an expedition doctor for Across the Divide in Cuba, Peru, China, Nepal, Tanzania and Arctic Norway. He will take part in nine days of training before joining other medical teams in west Africa.

Dr Alcock said: "This is a medical humanitarian crisis and urgent medical help is required. It is important that we control and contain the virus to prevent its spread out-with west Africa.

"I have the training and experience to be able to go to Sierra Leone and have received tremendous support from colleagues, friends and family."

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "It is always inspiring to see health professionals volunteering to go abroad to help tackle medical emergencies.

"The Ebola outbreak has had a devastating impact on some of the world's poorest communities, and the courage and dedication of people like Dr Roger Alcock is playing a key role in the effort to bring the disease under control.

"More than 50 health workers from Scotland have already volunteered to go to west Africa to help with the response. I have personally written to NHS chief executives to reiterate our full support for these volunteers.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all Scottish aid workers, health workers and other support staff who are doing their bit to help the people of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia."

Last month, the Scottish Government donated £500,000 to the WHO and £300,000 of medical supplies to the six government-funded, charity-run clinics in Sierra Leone.