Health officials in Liberia fear Ebola could spread through capital city Monrovia's largest slum after residents raided a quarantine centre for suspected patients and took items including blood-stained sheets and mattresses.

Tolbert Nyenswah, assistant health minister, said today the violence in the West Point slum occurred late on Saturday.

It was led by residents angry that patients were brought from other parts of the capital to the holding centre. It was not immediately clear how many patients were there.

A senior police official said residents went on a "looting spree," stealing items that were likely to be infected.

The World Health Organisation says Ebola has killed 1,145 people in west Africa, including 413 in Liberia.

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