Senegal’s health ministry has confirmed a first case of Ebola, making it the fifth West African country to be affected by the outbreak.
Health Minister Awa Marie Coll Seck told reporters on Friday that a young man from Guinea was confirmed to have contracted the virus.
The man was immediately placed in quarantine, she added.
The current outbreak, which began in Guinea, has killed more than 1,500 people across the region.
At least 3,000 people have been infected with the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned it could get much worse and infect more than 20,000 people.
Senegal had previously closed its border with Guinea in a bid to halt the spread of Ebola, but its borders are porous.
It had also banned flights and ships from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – the three worst-hit countries.
Separately on Friday, residents of Guinea’s second largest city, Nzerekore, rioted after its main market was sprayed with disinfectant in a bid to halt the spread of the virus.
The exact cause of the riot is not clear – some also reportedly feared the spray would spread Ebola.
A 24-hour curfew is currently in place in the city.(BBC)