US orders embassy relatives to leave Monrovia over Ebola

Washington - The State Department is ordering all family members of US personnel to leave the embassy in Liberia's capital because of the Ebola outbreak.

In a statement on Thursday night, the State Department says it's taking the action for those not employed by the embassy in Monrovia out of an abundance of caution.

A State Department spokeswoman says its medical office has determined that there is a lack of options for routine health care services at major medical facilities due to the Ebola outbreak.

The deadly virus has been reported in Liberia and three other countries in West Africa. Nearly 1 000 people have died since the outbreak appeared in March.