SAA continues flights to west Africa

Johannesburg - As countries in west Africa continue to battle the outbreak of Ebola, South African Airways says it will not be cancelling flights to the region.

"We have not cancelled any flights to destinations in west Africa," spokesperson Tlali Tlali told Sapa.

The AP reported that the World Health Organisation announced on Monday that the death toll had increased from 729 to 887 deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria.

The South African government has said there is no need for residents to panic over the possibility of the outbreak reaching the country.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the country remained on high alert and precautions were being taken to prevent the virus from entering the country.

Since the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease - the largest in history - the health department in conjunction with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases issued an alert to officials at the country's ports of entry.