Sierra Leone: Leading doctor dies of Ebola

The doctor leading Sierra Leone 's fight against the worst Ebola outbreak on record died from the virus on Tuesday, the country's chief medical officer said.

Reuters reports that the death of Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, 39, highlights the dangers health workers face in trying to halt the disease's spread across West Africa. Ebola is believed to have killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in February.

The regional airline Asky has suspended flights to and from Sierra Leone and Liberia. Asky, which is based in Togo, also said passengers leaving Guinea's capital, Conakry, would be checked for symptoms before departure. Nigeria's largest carrier, Arik Air, has suspended flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone because of the Ebola risk.