Canadians living in the three west African countries hardest hit by the Ebola virus are being advised by Health Canada to leave while there are still commercial flights available.

Health Minister Rona Ambrose says there are 216 Canadians living in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Calling it the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola, the World Health Organization says the three countries face ongoing outbreaks, and that the death toll will likely increase. 

In the past 10 months, Ebola has taken the lives of over four thousand people in west Africa.