Australia is suspending entry visas for people from Ebola-affected countries in west Africa in an attempt to keep out the disease.
The government is cancelling and refusing non-permanent or temporary visas held by people who are not yet travelling, and new visa applications will not be processed. Permanent visa holders who have yet to arrive in Australia must submit to a three-week quarantine before departure.
Countries most severely hit by the current outbreak are Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Airport checks have identified more than 800 people who entered Australia from west Africa and who could have been in Ebola-stricken areas, but none has required a hospital visit after arriving.
“The government’s systems and processes are working to protect Australians,” immigration minister Scott Morrison told parliament on Monday.
Last week, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said that he was “carefully considering” requests from the United States and Britain to send healthcare personnel to west Africa.
Australia has donated $18m (£10m) to fight the disease but will not send health workers until it has guarantees that any Australian who becomes infected in Africa will receive adequate medical treatment.