ZAGREB, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Croatia is intensifying the preparations for fighting against possible outbreak of the Ebola virus, due to the increasing number of cases in Africa, infectious diseases expert said on Friday.

Alemka Markotic, head of the Research Department at the Dr Fran Mihaljevic Clinic for Infectious Diseases, said two locations have been prepared for the accommodation of infected persons.

It is necessary to prepare the health system for a possible outbreak as the disease is not easy to be stopped, she added.

According to data from the World Health Organization, as of Sept. 14, a total of 5,357 cases, including 2,630 deaths, had been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal.