Sierra Leone was preparing yesterday for a three-day nationwide shutdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus - but some experts say this could worsen the epidemic.
The population of 6million will be confined to their homes as almost 30000 volunteers go door-to-door looking for infected people afraid to get medical help - and for bodies hidden in homes.
The worst-ever outbreak of the virus has claimed more than 550 lives in Sierra Leone, one of three countries at the centre of the epidemic, which has killed about 2630 people in West Africa.
More than 7000 four-man volunteer teams will visit the country's 1.5million homes.
They will hand out soap and information on how to prevent infection.
They will also set up neighbourhood-watch style Ebola surveillance teams.
Experts have warned, however, that coercive measures to stem the epidemic could backfire by creating hostility in the population, and would also be extremely difficult to implement.
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