Guinea raced Saturday to contain a deadly Ebola epidemic spreading from its southern forests to the capital Conakry, as neighboring Senegal closed its border.

The Senegalese interior ministry said border crossings to Guinea would be closed "until further notice."

The order affects crossings at Kolda and Kedougou in the south of Senegal that are heavily used by traders, particularly during a weekly market attended by thousands from neighboring countries.

Eight cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Conakry, the Guinean health ministry said late Friday, including one fatality.

Across the country, "the total number of suspected cases recorded from January to March 28, 2014, is 111 cases of hemorrhagic fever including 70 deaths ... or a fatality rate of 63 percent," the ministry said in a statement.

Samples taken from 45 of the suspect cases included 19 that tested positive for Ebola.

Those infected have been put in isolation to prevent the virus from spreading, while aid organizations have sent dozens of workers to help the poor West African country combat the virus.

AFP