Monrovia, Aug 12 (IANS): Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Tuesday banned all government officials from travelling out of the country.
A statement from her office said the suspension covers government officials of all ministries, agencies, public corporations, and commissions for a period of one month, Xinhua reported.
Sirleaf has also instructed all government officials currently out of the country, whether on government or private visit, to return home within a week or be considered as abandoning their jobs.
Last Wednesday, Sirleaf declared a state of emergency for a 90-day period following the Ebola virus disease outbreak.
The move would give Liberia the chance to take steps in containing the deadly Ebola virus disease that continues to claim lives without any visible solution yet, Sirleaf added.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) last Friday declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa as an international health emergency.
It noted that the outbreak of the disease in West Africa constituted an “extraordinary event” and a public health risk to other countries.
The current Ebola outbreak started in Guinea in December 2013.
It has now manifested itself in Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone besides Guinea.
So far, the countries have reported 1,711 cases (1,070 confirmed, 436 probable, 205 suspected), including 932 deaths.
The virus is spread through direct contact with the body fluids of those infected.
“This is currently the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded,” the UN body said.