Bahrain has confirmed a ban on imports of livestock and meat products from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria following an outbreak of Ebola, which has killed hundreds in the four West African countries.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi yesterday confirmed the ban, first reported in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication on Thursday, which includes fresh and frozen meat.

The measure will be extended automatically to include any other meat-exporting country that reports Ebola cases.

"The ban is in line with a decision by the Cabinet to step up preventive measures so as to avert any potential outbreak of the deadly virus," Dr Al Ka'abi said.

The ministry has also stepped up contact with neighbouring countries, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Lab tests on samples from imported livestock and meat have come back negative for Ebola. - TradeArabia News Service