Canadians are being warned to avoid non-essential travel to three African countries suffering from an outbreak of Ebola virus.
The outbreak in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone is the largest since the disease first emerged in Africa nearly 40 years ago.
The World Health Organization says that, as of Thursday, 729 people have died as a result of the outbreak.
On Thursday, the agency said that–based on information it had received from the WHO–a travel warning was not needed
On Friday, it upgraded the notice, saying Canadians could help control the outbreak by staying away.
The agency says the risk of contracting the illness remains low but said travellers could find it hard to access health care services if they get sick and that they could also be exposed to the virus while seeking medical care.
The contagious virus is spread by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids from a sick person and can’t be spread like flu through casual contact or breathing the same air.
There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the virus.
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