UK authorities meet to assess Ebola outbreak threat

The British government's emergencies committee is to meet to discuss how to tackle the “new and emerging” threat of Ebola, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said as fears mounted that the deadly virus could spread to the UK.

UK authorities meet to assess Ebola outbreak threat

The British government's emergencies committee is to meet to discuss how to tackle the “new and emerging” threat of Ebola, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said as fears mounted that the deadly virus could spread to the UK.

Mr Hammond said no British national so far had been affected by the outbreak, which is centred on West Africa, and there had been no cases in the UK but he would be chairing the Government’s Cobra emergencies committee later today to assess the situation.

“As far as we are aware, there are no British nationals so far affected by this outbreak and certainly no cases in the UK. However the Prime Minister does regard it as a very serious threat and I will be chairing a Cobra meeting later today to assess the situation and look at any measures that we need to take either in the UK, or in our diplomatic posts abroad in order to manage the threat,” he told Sky News.

“We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with.”

Mr Hammond’s remarks were made as health professionals were warned to be vigilant for signs of the deadly virus after an outbreak which has killed more than 670 people in West Africa.

The latest outbreak is the largest in history and has centred on Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

There has also been particular concern after the densely populated country of Nigeria reported what is thought to be its first death from the disease on Friday.

American Patrick Sawyer, 40, developed symptoms on board a flight from Liberia to Nigeria. Mr Sawyer, who was of Liberian descent, had been on his way home to the US. His sister has also died of the disease. Mr Sawyer is said to have made multiple flights from Liberia to Nigeria.

The disease can have a fatality rate of up to 90%, and there is no treatment or vaccine.

Health workers tackling the outbreak in the region have been especially vulnerable to contracting the disease.

Dr Sheik Humarr Khan, who had been hailed as a national hero for his work treating patients with Ebola in Sierra Leone, died yesterday after being quarantined in hospital in the country.

Two American health workers – a doctor and a missionary – are also in hospital in neighbouring Liberia after contracting the disease, prompting two US missionary groups to evacuate non-essential personnel from the country.

According the World Health Organisation, Ebola is one of the world’s most virulent diseases.

Infection comes from direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people, and those most at risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with the sick and dead patients.

Infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest

Ebola is a severe acute viral illness, and symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show after being infected.

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