A $50 million contribution to support an emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa was announced Wednesday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Associated Press reported.

"It became clear to us over the last seven to 10 days that the pace and scope of the epidemic was increasing significantly," Chris Elias, president of global development for the foundation, told AP.

This is the foundation's largest donation to a humanitarian effort, and will help support United Nations, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other international organizations helping in the fight against the virus.

The foundation has specified that the money will be used for current efforts to treat and fight the outbreak, as well as be put towards experimental drugs.

AP reported the funds will help purchase supplies and to develop vaccines, therapies and better diagnostic tools, but it is undecided how the money will be split.

"One of our key advantages is flexibility," Elias said.

To date, about one-fifth of the amount committed has already been sent, the foundations said in a statement.

UNICEF via the U.S. Fund has received $5 million to support efforts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- the first three countries to be affected -- to purchase essential medical supplies, coordinate response activities and provide at-rise communities with health information.

In addition, the World Health Organization has received $5 million for emergency operations and R&D assessments, and $2 million has been recently committed to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for management, treatment and health care system strengthening, according to the foundation.

"We are working urgently with our partners to identify the most effective ways to help them save lives now and stop transmission of this deadly disease," said Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the foundation, in a statement.

The commitment came in response to a request by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said $600 million was needed to fight the Ebola outbreak, AP reported.

The foundation formed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife reported an endowment worth $40 billion as of March 2014.