'Lebanon at a high risk for Ebola'

Lebanon is at a high risk of being affected by deadly Ebola virus, which has ravaged parts of West Africa and prompted a worldwide health scare, the country's health minister said Monday.

"However, a set of measures to prevent the disease from entering the country has been adopted," Xinhua quoted Wael Abou Faour as adding during a press conference.

Lebanese business people who travel to West Africa put Lebanon at a high risk for Ebola, the minister said, warning that "due to the large number of Lebanese expatriates in infected countries, Lebanon should be exceptionally cautious".

A number of measures had been taken to prevent the disease from entering Lebanon by working with embassies, airports and hospitals, he said, adding "measures will be taken with the administrations of ports, which will be responsible for notifying the ministry whenever a ship coming from a West African country heads to Lebanon."