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 The new measures announced by the government on Sunday came as
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone struggle to contain the worst
outbreak yet of the virus.
Speaking at a task force meeting, Liberia President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf said the government is doing everything to fight the virus
including inspecting and testing all outgoing and incoming
passengers by Liberia's airport authority.
"All borders of Liberia will be closed with the exception of major
entry points. At these entry points, preventive and testing centers
will be established, and stringent preventive measures to be
announced will be scrupulously adhered to," she said.
Ebola can kill up to 90 percent of those who catch it, although the
fatality rate of the current outbreak is around 60 percent. Highly
contagious, especially in the late stages, its symptoms include
vomiting and diarrhea as well as internal and external bleeding.
Under the new measures, public gatherings such as marches,
demonstrations and promotional advertisements also will be
restricted.
The outbreak has placed a great strain on the health systems of some
of Africa's poorest countries.
"No doubt, the Ebola virus is a national health problem. And as we
have also begun to see, it attacks our way of life, with serious
economic and social consequences," Sirleaf said in a statement.
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Still, despite efforts to fight the disease, the virus continues to
spread. A 33-year-old American doctor working for relief
organization Samaritan's Purse in Liberia tested positive for the
disease on Saturday.
The charity said on Sunday a second American, who was helping a team
treating Ebola patients at a case management center in Monrovia had
also tested positive.
Samuel Brisbane, a senior Liberian doctor, who was also treating
infected patients has died after contracting the virus, authorities
said on Sunday. In Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, a Liberian
man who tested positive died in on Friday.
(Reporting by Clair MacDougall; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by
Diane Craft)
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