Panama City, October 23 (NNN-EFE) -- The Panamanian government on Wednesday announced that it has banned the arrival of travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as a preventive measure against Ebola.

Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are the West African nations that have been most affected by the Ebola epidemic, which has infected more than 9,900 people, almost all of them in West Africa, and killed almost 4,900, according to figures released on Wednesday by the World Health Organization.

The measure "was discussed with representatives of the airlines that provide services at the Tocumen International Airport," which serves the Panamanian capital, "and health care professionals" in the Central American nation. The travel ban "will be maintained until the mentioned nations are declared free of the Ebola virus," adds the communique.

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela told reporters that the measure "is a way of containing the virus and preventing the transit" of it into the Central American country.

Panama, which has not registered a single case of Ebola, on October 14th issued a precautionary health alert and approved the allocation of $10 million to buy equipment and outfit hospitals with an eye toward handling Ebola patients, should that become necessary.