LIBERIA SUSPEND FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES DUE TO EBOLA OUTBREAK

Liberia has suspended all football activities in an effort to control the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Sierra Leone is one of the countries battling the outbreak

There was a risk of infection because football is a contact sport, the football association said.

The number of people killed by the virus in West Africa has now reached 672, according to new UN figures.

A major regional airliner, Asky, said it had halted flights to the Liberian and Sierra Leonean capitals because of growing concerns about the virus.

It is the second airline company to take such a decision, following the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever.

"Asky is determined to keep its passengers and staff safe during this unsettling time,'' it said in a statement said.

Liberia tied Independence Day celebrations on 26 July to efforts to create more awareness around Ebola

Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.

It spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids.

The outbreak was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Last week, Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, reported its first case - that of Liberian government employee Patrick Sawyer who flew to the main city, Lagos, in an ASKY flight.

Greater emphasis is being placed on hygiene in an effort to contain the virus

All officials who had direct or indirect contact with Mr Sawyer, 40, had been placed under "observatory surveillance" by health authorities, Liberia's finance ministry said.

It had also limited to four the number of people who can be in a lift at the same time, the ministry added.

Mr Sawyer was a senior official in the ministry, and died in Lagos five days after arriving in the city.

Nigerian authorities have so far identified 59 people who came into contact with Mr Sawyer and have tested 20, Lagos State Health Commissioner Jide Idris is quoted by the Associated Press (AP) news agency as saying.

Liberia's ex-football star George Weah has joined the campaign to create greater awareness.

"If one person gets affected, 100 persons will get affected, if 100 persons get affected, one million people will get affected," Mr Weah said.

Many people are worried about the outbreak, and fewer people are going to restaurants and entertainment centres, our reporter says.

Most border crossings in Liberia have been closed to contain the outbreak and affected communities are being quarantined.

Police had been deployed to Liberia's international airport to ensure passengers were screened for Ebola symptoms, our correspondent says.

Asky said it had not halted flights to Guinea's capital Conakry, but passengers departing from there would be "screened for signs of the virus".

Culled from BBC Sport.