He led Sierra Leone's fight against Ebola ---- urging locals to get tested immediately and warning about the dangers of denial.

SOUNDBITE:Dr. Sheik Umar Khan saying:

"Simply, it's a disease that somebody can acquire, and if only they could listen appropriately to our advices."

But now he himself has become a victim.

Dr. Sheik Umar Khan died Tuesday evening from the disease

The 39-year-old doctor is being hailed as "national hero" by the country's health ministry.

The Ebola outbreak in western Africa is believed to have killed nearly 700 people making it the worst on record. There is no cure.

Khan's death from the highly contagious virus highlights the risk health workers face in treating it.

A month before his death, he spoke about the dangerous stigma surrounding the disease.

SOUNDBITE: Dr. Sheik Umar Khan saying:

"It's about denial, it's about the negative attitude initially we are getting from our people."

Khan died l