FILE image (July 28, 2012) shows officials from the World Health Organization wearing protective gear as they prepare to enter Kagadi Hospital in Uganda's western Kibale district, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Kampala.
CONAKRY - Guinea&39;s President Alpha Conde has warned of a "health emergency" as authorities raced to contain a spiralling Ebola epidemic which has killed 78 people and prompted neighbouring Senegal to close its border.
Guinea&39;s health ministry said that 122 "suspicious cases" of viral haemorrhagic fever, including 78 deaths, had been registered.
President Conde said his country was facing a "health emergency" but that "thanks to the international community, all measures have been taken to effectively fight this epidemic."
Latest information on the outbreak "allows us to be optimistic and confident about achieving a final and rapid success in our response to this problem," he said on public television, urging people not to panic.
Samples taken from a number of the suspect cases include 22 that tested positive for Ebola, three more than previously reported, according to the latest official figures.
Of these, half were in the capital Conakry, and the others in southern towns -- six in Gueckedou and five in Macenta.
In Conakry, the fear of contracting the virus has prompted many residents to stay home or limit their movements.
A concert by Senegalese music star Youssou N&39;Dour scheduled for Saturday night was postponed in solidarity with the victims of Ebola and to avoid the "enormous" risk of contamination, organisers said.
The European Union has pledged €500,000 ($690,000) to fight the contagion, while the Senegalese interior ministry said border crossings to Guinea would be closed "until further notice."
The order affects crossings at Kolda and Kedougou in the south of Senegal that are heavily used by traders, particularly during a weekly market attended by thousands from neighbouring countries which has now been cancelled.
Those infected have been placed in isolation to prevent the virus from spreading, while aid organisations have sent dozens of workers to help the poor west African country combat the outbreak.
