Liberian government officials are begging nurses and physician assistants to come at work today even if there's an ongoing dispute regarding hazard pay. It wants to head-off a health workers' strike during the height of the Ebola epidemic.

This strike poses a serious threat to Ebola relief efforts in Liberia where there are currently 2,300 confirmed Ebola cases. This total is the largest in any country in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

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Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visited Ebola treatment centers around the Liberian capital Monrovia over the weekend and asked health workers to continue their service in helping Ebola victims.

The National Health Workers Association is demanding US$700 hazard pay per worker, not including a monthly salary that can range from US$200 to US$300. The current hazard pay per month is below US$500.

The health association claims they have more than 10,000 members but the Liberian health ministry claims only 1,000 workers are at the forefront of the battle against Ebola.

George Williams, the association's secretary general, said they're still on standby and are waiting for the government to confront their demands.

To date, more than 4,000 persons have died from the Ebola virus, according to the latest report from WHO.

Around 400 health workers in Africa have contracted the disease. Almost half this number is from Liberia and 95 Liberian health workers have already died from Ebola.

Health workers in Liberia are exposed to poor, hazardous conditions and wear little or no protective gear.

Ebola symptoms include nausea and vomiting accompanied by bloody diarrhea, rashes and red eyes, severe coughing and internal bleeding.

Ebola is transmitted via direct contact by touching and by other physical means such as blood and body secretions along with touching contaminated surfaces.

Ebola victims from outside Africa now include a Spanish nurse and an American health worker.

TagsLiberian Health Workers Goes On Strike Amidst Ebola Crisis, Ebola Virus, africa ebola liberia, health workers strike liberia ebola