A day after the World Health Organisation declared the ebola outbreak in West Africa a global emergency, Guinea has closed its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia in a bid to halt the spread of the epidemic.
Nigeria has now confirmed seven cases of the disease in its commercial capital Lagos, home to 21 million people.
a member of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Guinea. Photo: AFP FILE
The government there is appealing for volunteers because of a shortage of medical personnel.
Countries as far afield as India are scrambling to impose measures to avoid the virus which has claimed almost 1000 lives.
Zambia has announced it will deny entry to people from countries hit by the virus, while Chad has suspended all flights from Nigeria.
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand said from Saturday, anyone who has visited the West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak will be screened for symptoms at the border.
Deputy director of health Fran McGrath said, if required, those who have been in West Africa will have a health test .
She said the risk of any cases of the disease in New Zealand remains very low.
