Liberia has recently passed a new law which prohibits the press from taking "invasive" coverage of the Ebola outbreak in the country.

Under the law, which the government imposed on Thursday to protect the privacy of Liberian patients, members of the media will need to get permission to take Ebola coverage in the Ebola-ridden country.

Like Us on Facebook

Media's growing interest on the outbreak in Liberia has showed the world that the country's healthcare system could use a lot of improvement, according to Reuters.

Liberian officials said that members of the press could face charges and be sent to jail if they interview Ebola patients or take footages of the healthcare facilities in the country, without acquiring permission from the health ministry.

Assistant health minister Tolbert Nyenswah, who is also Liberia's head of Ebola Incident Management System, said they were concerned about journalists who took pictures of Liberians who were entering treatment facilities to be checked by doctors.

"That is invasion of the dignity, privacy and respect of patients," he said.                    

According to Nyenswah, Ebola patients are just like any other sick people who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. He added that reports on the patients should be made in such a way that will "respect their privacy."

The outbreak of the disease has posed a challenge for health workers, especially in the three worst-hit countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

In West Africa, the World Health Organization reported that the death toll has reached over 4,000.

Among the three countries, Liberia is the worst-hit by the virus, where 2,300 people have died and more than 4,000 have been infected.

According to a study conducted by the WHO in September, more than 1.4 million people are expected to be infected by the virus by the end of January.

TagsEbola outbreak, Ebola Virus, media coverage, West Africa