MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) — Sierra Leone has called discriminatory Canada's decision to suspend visa applications from anyone, who has recently visited Ebola-hit countries.
"The government [of Sierra Leone] views the decision as discriminatory, coming at a time when we are trying to ease the isolation, and not re-enforce it," Theo Nicol, Sierra Leone's deputy information minister, told Agence France Presse Saturday.
"Canada's action is not taken with the interests of west African states in mind. As a member of the Commonwealth of nations, Sierra Leone particularly feels we should share common understanding and goodwill," Nicol was reported as saying.
On Friday Canadian federal citizenship ministry announced the suspension of visa applications from foreigners, who have visited Ebola-hit countries within the last three months. Canada's immigration minister described the step as a precautionary measure to protect the health of Canadians.
The current Ebola epidemic started in southern Guinea in February and later spread to other West African countries, with several Ebola cases having been reported in Europe and in the United States.
According to the World Health Organization, the total number of confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola Virus disease currently stands at 13,567. A total of 4,951 people have died from the virus.
There is no officially approved cure for the disease, but several countries are currently working on developing Ebola vaccines, with Russia planning to introduce three vaccines within the next six months.
