FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone, one of three West African nations hit by the worst-ever outbreak of the Ebola virus, will create an emergency center to coordinate responses to contain a disease that’s killed 127 people in the country.

The center, which will be located at the World Health Organization’s office in the capital Freetown, will act as a central command unit to link district health officials with regional authorities, the health ministry said in an e-mailed statement.

Sierra Leone has 397 confirmed cases of Ebola, which is spread through contact with bodily fluids and causes fever, diarrhea and vomiting. Poor health services, widespread misconceptions about the spread of the virus and social stigma are slowing efforts to combat the disease, which kills up to 90 percent of its victims.

WHO has set up a regional command center in Guinea’s capital, Conakry.