EBOLA: BORDERS CLOSED, ARRIVALS BANNED: EBOLA OUTBREAK CHANGES A REGION

Borders closed, arrivals banned: Ebola outbreak changes a region

By Azadeh Ansari, Brent Swails and Josh Levs, CNN

August 10, 2014 -- Updated 1348 GMT (2148 HKT)

Paramedics in protective suits move Ebola-infected Spanish missionary Miguel Pajares upon their arrival at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid on Thursday, August 7. Pajares was evacuated from Liberia. Health officials say the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the deadliest ever. The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria has infected more than 1,700 people and killed more than 900 this year. Paramedics in protective suits move Ebola-infected Spanish missionary Miguel Pajares upon their arrival at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid on Thursday, August 7. Pajares was evacuated from Liberia. Health officials say the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the deadliest ever. The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria has infected more than 1,700 people and killed more than 900 this year.

Ebola outbreak in West Africa

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Canada says patient who traveled to Nigeria tested negative for the virus
Zambia bans travelers from Ebola countries
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Nigeria are battling Ebola

(CNN) -- West African nations are turning to drastic measures in a desperate effort to stem the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Guinea has closed its border with Sierra Leone, a border police official told CNN.

Meanwhile, the Zambian government banned arrivals of people from countries where there has been an Ebola outbreak, as a preventive measure to stop the virus from entering the country.

"All delegates from any of the countries affected by Ebola Virus disease are restricted from entering Zambia until further notice," Dr. Joseph Kasonde, Zambia's minister of health, said in a statement Saturday.
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The virulent virus continues to advance from its epicenter in Sierra Leone to nearby Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Other West African governments are attempting to contain the outbreak, which has been declared a "public health emergency of international concern" by the World Health Organization.

Nearly 1,800 cases, including 961 deaths, are attributed to the virus, the World Health Organization says.

Nigeria and Liberia have declared states of national emergency, in an effort to control the unprecedented epidemic.

The United States and the United Kingdom vowed Saturday to increase assistance to help combat the disease in West Africa.

Two missionaries who had traveled to Africa are being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Canada, meanwhile, announced Sunday that a patient who recently traveled to Nigeria has tested negative for Ebola.

The patient was treated in isolation after complaining of fever, headache and malaise. He is now doing well, said Eric Hoskins, minister of health and long-term care.

"Ontarians should know that we are fully prepared should any cases appear in the province," Hoskins said in a statement. "This situation was the result of all our protocols working effectively."

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CNN's Nana Karikari-apau contributed to this report.