Nairobi, May 13 (IANS): The Kenyan government lifted the suspension of travellers from Liberia with immediate effect after the UN health agency declared the West African nation free from the Ebola virus.

"However, the country will continue to screen all travellers coming to Kenya from Liberia and other countries until the outbreak is controlled in the world," Xinhua quoted Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia as saying on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Liberian government on May 9 declared the country free from Ebola after 42 days without a new case.

Celebrations were, however, muted by thoughts for the dead and medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged vigilance until the worst outbreak of the disease ever recorded was also extinguished in neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

According to WHO, more than 11,000 people have died from Ebola in the three West African countries since the outbreak began in December 2013.

The UN health agency said it would maintain an enhanced staff presence in Liberia until the end of the year as the response transitions from outbreak control to vigilance for imported cases and, finally, recovery of essential health services.

Kenya, which banned travellers from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia on August 16, 2014, lauded Liberia for the successful containment of the outbreak.