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Ebola outbreak: UK ministers hold emergency Cobra meeting over threat Ebola outbreak: Britain has expertise to cope, say ministers
(about 4 hours later)
Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting amid warnings that the deadly Ebola virus could be a threat to Britain, although health experts said the country was well prepared to deal with any potential cases. Ministers said Britain had the expertise and resources to deal with the deadly Ebola virus should it come to the UK, after holding an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to consider the threat from the disease's deadliest ever outbreak.
Hammond said no British national so far had been affected by the outbreak and there had been no cases in the UK but he chaired the meeting to assess the situation. Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, below, chaired the meeting and said the virus, which has killed more than 600 people in west Africa, was not growing exponentially and was containable.
"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 … 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." "It seems in the worst outbreak areas to be contained at the present time, so that is obviously the logical approach, to try to provide additional resources to deal with the disease at source," he said.
As concern mounts over the worst Ebola outbreak yet recorded, the European commission said it would allocate an additional €2m (£1.6m) – on top of €1.9m – to help contain the spread of the epidemic. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, said Britain had experienced doctors who could deal with infectious diseases: "We are looking at our capability but we are very confident that we have very good people in the NHS, very experienced people, who will be ready to deal with anything if it were to arrive in the UK."
"The level of contamination on the ground is extremely worrying and we need to scale up our action before many more lives are lost," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid. Last week, the Department for International Development announced a £2m aid package to be made available immediately to partners, including the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) that are operating in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The money will be channelled through the World Health Organisation, MSF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent. The European commission on Wednesday said it would allocate an additional €2m (£1.6m) to help contain the spread of the disease. "The level of contamination on the ground is extremely worrying and we need to scale up our action before many more lives are lost," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid.
Sir Mark Walport, the government's chief scientific adviser, said it was important to be prepared. The money will be channelled through the World Health Organisation (WHO), MSF and the IFRC
"The government is keeping a close eye on the Ebola outbreak and we are well prepared," he said. "No cases of imported Ebola have ever been reported in the UK. The risk to a traveller going to west Africa of contracting Ebola is very low but the chief medical officer has alerted medical practitioners about the situation in west Africa and requested they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited the affected area." Sir Mark Walport, the government's chief scientific adviser, said it was important to be prepared. "The government is keeping a close eye on the outbreak and we are well prepared," he said.
In an interview published in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph, he said the disease was "potentially a major threat" to the UK because the increasingly "interconnected" nature of the world meant disruptions in far-off countries could have a major impact. "No cases of imported Ebola have ever been reported in the UK. The risk to a traveller going to west Africa of contracting Ebola is very low but the chief medical officer has alerted medical practitioners about the situation in west Africa and requested they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited the affected area."
In an interview published in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph, he said the disease was "potentially a major threat" to the UK because of the increasingly "interconnected" nature of the world.
He told the paper: "The most dangerous infections of humans have always been those which have emerged from other species. They are a potential major threat to us. Emerging infectious disease is a global grand challenge.He told the paper: "The most dangerous infections of humans have always been those which have emerged from other species. They are a potential major threat to us. Emerging infectious disease is a global grand challenge.
"We were lucky with Sars. But we have to do the best horizon scanning. We have to think about risk and managing risk appropriately.""We were lucky with Sars. But we have to do the best horizon scanning. We have to think about risk and managing risk appropriately."
A man was tested for Ebola in the UK earlier this week, but was found negative. The Department of Health said he was checked in Birmingham after he reportedly travelled from Benin to Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands. Meanwhile, another man contacted Charing Cross hospital in London over fears he had the virus, but doctors ruled out the need for an Ebola test. A man was tested for Ebola in Britain this week but the result was negative. The Department of Health said he was checked in Birmingham after he reportedly travelled from Benin to Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands.
Another man contacted Charing Cross hospital in London over fears he had the virus, but doctors ruled it out.
Health professionals have been warned to be vigilant for signs of the virus and Public Health England has briefed border officials and airport staff on the symptoms. It has issued an urgent warning to doctors after an infected man was able to make several flights from Liberia to Nigeria, where he died.Health professionals have been warned to be vigilant for signs of the virus and Public Health England has briefed border officials and airport staff on the symptoms. It has issued an urgent warning to doctors after an infected man was able to make several flights from Liberia to Nigeria, where he died.
Health workers tackling the outbreak in the region have been especially vulnerable to contracting the disease. Dr Sheik Humarr Khan, who was treating patients in Sierra Leone, died on Tuesday after being quarantined in hospital in the country. Health workers tackling the outbreak in west Africa have been especially vulnerable to contracting the disease. Dr Sheik Humarr Khan, who was treating patients in Sierra Leone, died on Tuesday 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.
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. The pan-African airline Asky suspended all flights to and from the capitals of Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the Liberian Football Association said it halted all activities in the country.
The pan-African airline ASKY suspended all flights to and from the capitals of Liberia and Sierra Leone and the Liberian Football Association said it halted all activities in the country. Ebola is believed to have killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in February, according to the WHO. The disease has no known cure.
The LFA decided "to cease operations of football activities considering that football matches are contact sports and Ebola is spread through body contacts with an infected person", the LFA chief, Musa Bility, said in a statement. The virus is transmitted through contact with fluids of infected people or animals, like urine, sweat, blood and saliva, even after death. Confirmed cases are first quarantined before undergoing intensive rehydration therapy. It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show. They include vomiting, diarrhoea, internal and external bleeding.
Meanwhile, the finance ministry in Liberia, where 127 people have died of the disease, said it had placed several senior officials under observation for three weeks after a leading ministry official died from the virus. PHE said: "Increasing case numbers and extended geographical spread may increase the risk for UK citizens engaged in humanitarian aid and healthcare delivery."
Ebola is believed to have killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in February, according to the WHO. The contagious disease, which has a fatality rate of 90%, has no known cure. "This is because most human infections result from direct contact with the bodily fluids or secretions of infected patients, particularly in hospitals (nosocomial transmission) and as a result of unsafe procedures, use of contaminated medical devices (including needles and syringes) and unprotected exposure to contaminated bodily fluids.
The virus is transmitted through contact with fluids of infected people or animals, like urine, sweat, blood and saliva, even after death. Confirmed cases are first quarantined before undergoing intensive rehydration therapy. It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show. They include vomiting, diarrhoea and internal and external bleeding. "However, the risk for tourists, visitors or expatriate residents in affected areas, is still considered very low if elementary precautions are followed."A DH official added: "Protecting the public from infectious diseases is a priority and we lead the world in this field. We are well prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of Ebola, though there has never been a case in this country. Any patients with suspected symptoms can be diagnosed within 24 hours and they would also be isolated at a dedicated unit to keep the public safe. Our specialist staff are also working with the World Health Organisation to help tackle the outbreak in Africa."
In its risk assessment for Britons, PHE said: "Increasing case numbers and extended geographical spread may increase the risk for UK citizens engaged in humanitarian aid and healthcare delivery."
A DH official added: "Protecting the public from infectious diseases is a priority and we lead the world in this field. We are well prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of Ebola, though there has never been a case in this country. Any patients with suspected symptoms can be diagnosed within 24 hours and they would also be isolated at a dedicated unit to keep the public safe. Our specialist staff are also working with the World Health Organisation to help tackle the outbreak in Africa."