DAKAR, Dec. 1  -- Presidents from French-speaking countries have appealed for reinforcement of solidarity with countries affected by Ebola virus.

Speaking at the 15th Francophonie Summit in Senegal, Senegalese President Macky Sall urged all member states of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) to join efforts of affected countries to defeat the disease.

Guinea's President Alpha Conde, whose country is one of the most affected, urged OIF member states to "fight against isolation and stigmatization of Ebola-hit countries, something he considered to be worse than the Ebola epidemic itself."

French President Francois Hollande announced that his country will construct on the African territory a specialized center dedicated to treating doctors sent to Africa in case they get infected with Ebola virus.

"We need to put up a center in Africa dedicated to treating medical staff so that in case they are infected with the Ebola virus, they do not have to move very far for treatment," Hollande added.

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said in his speech that his country did not have any Ebola case. "I received a communication this morning from the team coordinating the fight against Ebola, informing me that the last suspected Ebola case turned out negative," he said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mali has registered eight cases of Ebola after the virus spread from neighboring Guinea. Hundreds of people who came into contact with the disease are being monitored but have shown no sign of the disease.

The Ebola virus has affected 15,935 people and claimed 5,689 lives up to the end of November, the WHO said.

The meeting ended on Sunday with the election of Michaelle Jean, a Canadian, as OIF's secretary general. She takes over from former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf who stepped down after more than 10 years on the job.

The International Organization of the Francophonie has 57 members or associate members, while another 20 jurisdictions have observer status.

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