Travellers from West Africa could soon face additional screening for the deadly Ebola virus.
The country's chief health officers met on Monday to consider the next steps in combating a strain of Ebola sweeping the Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa.
The epidemic was declared an international emergency by the World Health Organisation on Sunday.
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Health Minister Mark Butler said border measures could be increased if the outbreak spreads.
"We're monitoring it very closely. We'll be working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Border Force to see whether any change to travel advice and border screening arrangements needs to take place," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
"Obviously for those communities in Africa, this is a very serious outbreak."
At least 100 people have died in the Congo and more than 390 cases are suspected, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has reported.
The virus spreads from person to person by contact with infected bodily fluids like blood or vomit.
Symptoms take up to 21 days to appear, making travel a risk.
There is no vaccine for the rare strain, caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The majority of cases have been reported in an area of the Congo affected by ongoing conflict.
Mr Butler said while the threat to Australia was still low, the outbreak was very serious.
"We're monitoring it very closely, because first of all, these case numbers are increasing almost every day," he said.
"It's a rare strain that's not responsive to vaccines or treatments that we have."
A spokesperson for aid charity Oxfam said dozens of deaths were likely going unreported, as people were dying at home without help.
"This outbreak is hitting a country already stretched to breaking point. Ongoing conflict and years of aid cuts have deepened a humanitarian crisis of staggering scale," the spokesperson said.
Ebola outbreaks are not rare, but this is only the third time the Bundibugyo has been reported.
Symptoms start like a common cold, before quickly progressing to severe vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding.
