NAIROBI, July 31, 2014 (AFP) - Kenya and Ethiopia, home to some of Africa's largest transport hubs, said Thursday they had boosted measures to combat possible Ebola cases arriving in their countries.

Kenya's National Disaster Operation Centre said in a statement that "port health services are on standby, with enhanced screening at border points to prevent and contain any possible disease threat".

Meanwhile Ethiopia Airlines said it was taking "extraordinary precautions in connection with the outbreak of the disease".

Ethiopia's national carrier is a major airline connecting countries across Africa, as well as flying to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  

"Stringent and specific surveillance is being carried out regarding all flights from west Africa at Addis Ababa airport," the airline said in a statement.

Fears that the outbreak of the virus in west Africa could spread have grown in recent days.

Almost 700 people have been killed since the first case was detected in February.