7 August 2014
Last updated at 07:56 ET
A Liberian woman weeps over the death of a relative from Ebola on the outskirts of Monrovia
In Sierra Leone the security forces have now imposed a complete blockade of eastern areas hit by Ebola.
Health experts in Switzerland are discussing a response to the outbreak.
It is the world's deadliest outbreak and the two-day World Health Organization (WHO) meeting will decide whether to declare a global health emergency.
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest diseases known to humans, with a fatality rate in this outbreak of between 50% and 60%. It is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of Ebola patients showing symptoms.
Analysis: Jonathan Paye-Layleh, BBC News, Monrovia
Most of the latest Ebola fatalities have come from Liberia
Already reports are reaching Monrovia that a military blockade
is stopping people from western regions of Grand Cape Mount and Bomi,
where Ebola is prevalent, from entering the capital.
These counties largely rely on Monrovia for their goods - and the blockade means that the cities of Robertsport and Tubmanburg are now cut off. One Tubmanburg resident phoned into a radio show to complain that rice, the national staple, was already in short supply in the market.
The head of the National Health Workers Association said while the state of emergency was necessary, people should have been given time to prepare. Fear has prompted hospital workers to abandon clinics - meaning many are now shut.
President Sirleaf said this meant many diseases prevalent during the rainy season, such as malaria and typhoid, were going untreated and there could be unnecessary and preventable deaths as a result.
Announcing a state of emergency for 90 days, President Sirleaf
said the government and people of Liberia required "extraordinary
measures for the very survival of our state and for the protection of
the lives of our people".
Speaking from a crossroads 37km (23 miles) west of Monrovia, the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh said soldiers had been deployed to stop the movement of people - many of whom are traders.
In neighbouring Sierra Leone, the head of the police in the east of the country said police and soldiers had imposed a "complete blockade" of the Kenema and Kailahun districts.
"No vehicles or persons will be allowed in or out of the districts" except those with essential food and medicines, he said.
In other developments:
If a public health emergency is declared by the WHO, it could
involve detailed plans to identify, isolate and treat cases, as well as
impose travel restrictions on affected areas.
There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola - but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
Ebola has initial flu-like symptoms that can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28690799
A Liberian woman weeps over the death of a relative from Ebola on the outskirts of Monrovia
Liberian
soldiers have set up a blockade stopping people from western regions
affected by the Ebola outbreak from entering the capital, Monrovia.
It follows the president's declaration of a state of
emergency to tackle the outbreak that has killed more than 930 people in
West Africa this year.In Sierra Leone the security forces have now imposed a complete blockade of eastern areas hit by Ebola.
Health experts in Switzerland are discussing a response to the outbreak.
It is the world's deadliest outbreak and the two-day World Health Organization (WHO) meeting will decide whether to declare a global health emergency.
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest diseases known to humans, with a fatality rate in this outbreak of between 50% and 60%. It is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of Ebola patients showing symptoms.
Most of the latest Ebola fatalities have come from Liberia
These counties largely rely on Monrovia for their goods - and the blockade means that the cities of Robertsport and Tubmanburg are now cut off. One Tubmanburg resident phoned into a radio show to complain that rice, the national staple, was already in short supply in the market.
The head of the National Health Workers Association said while the state of emergency was necessary, people should have been given time to prepare. Fear has prompted hospital workers to abandon clinics - meaning many are now shut.
President Sirleaf said this meant many diseases prevalent during the rainy season, such as malaria and typhoid, were going untreated and there could be unnecessary and preventable deaths as a result.
Speaking from a crossroads 37km (23 miles) west of Monrovia, the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh said soldiers had been deployed to stop the movement of people - many of whom are traders.
In neighbouring Sierra Leone, the head of the police in the east of the country said police and soldiers had imposed a "complete blockade" of the Kenema and Kailahun districts.
"No vehicles or persons will be allowed in or out of the districts" except those with essential food and medicines, he said.
In other developments:
- A Spanish priest who contracted Ebola while working in a hospital in Liberia was flown back to Spain for treatment, along with a nun who is to be isolated in case of infection
- The WHO said it would convene a meeting of medical ethics specialists next week to decide whether to approve experimental treatment for Ebola
There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola - but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
Ebola has initial flu-like symptoms that can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28690799
