London, March 29 (IANS): Guinean President Alpha Conde on Sunday declared a 45-day "health emergency" in five regions in the west and south-west of the country over Ebola.

Conde declared "a reinforced health emergency for a period of 45 days in the prefectures of Forecariah, Coyah, Dubreka, Boffa and Kindia" in a statement published in state media, BBC reported.

The focus of the virus "has shifted to our country's coastal areas", he said.

The restrictions include the quarantining of hospitals and clinics where new cases are detected, new rules on burials and possible lockdowns.

The Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013.

On Friday, Sierra Leone began a three-day nationwide lockdown sparked by fears the virus was making a comeback in some parts of the country.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since the Ebola outbreak began, more than 24,000 people in nine countries have been infected with the virus, and over 10,000 have died.