Canada will stop issuing visas to people of the three countries in West Africa, where Ebola is widespread, the government said Friday. 

The federal minister of citizenship, which explains the movement, said in an official document that "the introduction or spread of disease may pose an imminent and serious risk to public health." 

About 5,000 people have died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone this year in the worst outbreak of Ebola in the record. Fears grew that the disease could spread beyond the region after a few cases in Spain and the United States were diagnosed. 

Passengers make their way through a security checkpoint at JFK International Airport in New York. 

Canada, which has not reported any case of Ebola, is following in the footsteps of Australia, which on Tuesday became the first rich country to issue a ban of this type. Officer in charge of the country's response to Ebola said the measure was medically unjustified. 

Under the new regulations, which take effect immediately, Canada will not process visa applications from foreign nationals who have been in an area affected by Ebola in the three months before the country. 

US President Barack Obama is so far resisting the pressure to impose similar restrictions on travel. 

The Conservative government's decision drew fire from the official opposition New Democratic Party of Canada. 

"The experts are confident that we are to combat Ebola are saying that this is not the right approach," said health critic Libby Davies party in a statement. 

Codie Taylor, the chief spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.