Nigeria's president is declaring a national state of emergency over the Ebola virus.

President Goodluck Jonathan said in a statement Friday that the relevant agencies must ensure that all possible steps are taken "to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices."

Nigeria's health ministry says two patients in Africa's most populous nation have died of the disease, and there are seven other confirmed cases.

Jonathan also approved the release of 1.9 billion naira ($11.7 million) to contain the disease through an intervention plan. He also asked schools to consider extending the current school holiday until there is a national reassessment of the level of threat Ebola poses in Nigeria.