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Ebola outbreak: Australia will not send health workers to west Africa Ebola outbreak: Australia will not send health workers to west Africa
(about 5 hours later)
Australia will not send health workers to west Africa’s Ebola outbreak zones because of logistical problems evacuating medical personnel if they contract the virus. Australia will not send health workers to west Africa’s Ebola outbreak zones because there’s no way to get them home safely if they catch the disease.
Médecins Sans Frontières has urged the Abbott government to increase Australia’s contribution. Médecins Sans Frontières and World Health Organisation have urged the government to increase Australia’s contribution.
But the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, insists Australia is pulling its weight and says the World Health Organisation has not asked for on-the-ground health workers.But the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, insists Australia is pulling its weight and says the World Health Organisation has not asked for on-the-ground health workers.
The health and defence departments advised that Australia could not bring people home if they contract the disease, Bishop said. She said the Australian Defence Force and health department advised it was not possible to safely evacuate infected health workers back to Australia.
“We will not be putting Australian health workers in a risky situation in the absence of evacuation plans and an appropriate level of medical care,” she told ABC radio. “The Australian government is not about to put at risk Australian health workers in the absence of credible evacuation plans that could bring our people back to Australia,” she told reporters in Melbourne.
The government is negotiating with Britain and the US on evacuations.The government is negotiating with Britain and the US on evacuations.
The opposition health spokeswoman, Catherine King, said Australia should send a team of health workers.The opposition health spokeswoman, Catherine King, said Australia should send a team of health workers.
“It should not be beyond the wit of the Australian government to strike a deal,” she told ABC radio.“It should not be beyond the wit of the Australian government to strike a deal,” she told ABC radio.
“Just because it’s not right on our border doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about something of this magnitude.”“Just because it’s not right on our border doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about something of this magnitude.”
The government has contributed $8m towards efforts to combat the disease, which has killed about 3,000 people since December.The government has contributed $8m towards efforts to combat the disease, which has killed about 3,000 people since December.