(CNN) -- Canada will stop processing visa applications from foreign nationals who have visited West African nations with large outbreaks of the Ebola virus, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said Friday. Applications will be returned to people from Ebola hot spots who have already applied for visas, officials said in a press release. The changes do not affect Canadians currently in West Africa, the press release said. Health care workers in West Africa will be permitted to travel back to Canada. The action is similar to that taken by Australia several days ago. "Our number one priority is to protect Canadians," Alexander said. "We continue to work with domestic and international partners to aid efforts to respond to the outbreak in West Africa, while strengthening our domestic preparedness here at home."
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NEW: Canada will stop accepting visa applications from Ebola hot spots, official says
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U.N. Ebola coordinator issues statement on quarantines for 3 West African nations
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U.S. ambassador to the UN commends Cuba for sending health workers to Africa
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WHO: 4,951 deaths and 13,567 cases of Ebola up to October 29
A total of 523 healthcare are known to be infected and 269 have died, according to the @placeholder.