10 Guineans detained in Cote d'Ivoire over Ebola fears

Cote d'Ivoire police have detained 10 Guineans as they tried to enter a town in the country's northeast region, security sources said Tuesday.

The Guineans were taken to Abidjan under police escort to undergo medical examination, especially Ebola tests, Xinhua quoted the sources as saying.

The Guineans were detained in the town of Bondoukou under a Cote d'Ivoire government policy to control the spread of Ebola virus disease which is currently affecting West African countries that include Guinea and Liberia.

The 10 Guineans from Siguiri locality in Guinea had entered Cote d'Ivoire Monday morning through the northern border crossing point of Ouangolodougou.

Media reports said that two people died recently from Ebola in Siguiri locality.

On Monday, Cote d'Ivoire's Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi said 17 Liberians who had tried to enter the country through the southeast region of Tabou were returned to their country.

"Our borders are not closed, but we shall remain vigilant so that our country is not affected by the disease," Koffi said.

Other measures taken by Cote d'Ivoire government include suspending flights of the national carrier to countries that have been affected by Ebola and banning airlines from carrying passengers from the said countries to Abidjan.