3,500 Filipinos in Ebola-affected African countries to be evacuated

The Philippine government is set to evacuate nearly 3,500 Filipino workers in three Ebola-hit states in Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday.

"We are preparing for the implementation of mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in view of the threat posed by Ebola virus disease," DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement.

Jose said there are 880 Filipinos in Guinea, 632 in Liberia, including 148 peacekeepers and 1,979 in Sierra Leone.

Earlier, a Filipino sailor, who was suspected to have contracted the deadly virus, tested negative for Ebola and was instead diagnosed with flu.

The World Health Organization has declared Ebola epidemic a global emergency after the virus killed 1,350 this year, with most deaths in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.