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UK Ebola case feared after British man dies in Macedonia UK Ebola screening for arrivals from affected areas
(35 minutes later)
A British man suspected of having contracted Ebola has died in Macedonia. People arriving in the UK from areas hit by Ebola face "enhanced screening" for the virus at Heathrow, Gatwick and Eurostar terminals.
The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the reports.
A British citizen travelling with the unnamed man said they had not been to any areas affected by the deadly virus, a Macedonian government spokesman said.
It comes as the UK government announced arrivals from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia would face "enhanced screening" at Heathrow, Gatwick and Eurostar terminals.
Downing Street said passengers would be asked questions and potentially given a medical assessment.Downing Street said passengers would be asked questions and potentially given a medical assessment.
Earlier ministers had ruled out screening, saying the UK was following World Health Organisation advice. It comes as Whitehall sources say it is "very unlikely" a British man died in Macedonia on Thursday could have contracted the disease.
A spokesman for the Macedonian government told the BBC it could not confirm that Ebola was the cause of death. The UK Foreign Office had said it was urgently investigating the reports.
Blood and tissue samples had been sent to a laboratory in Frankfurt for analysis, the spokesman said. The unnamed man had been vomiting, bleeding internally and had had a fever before he died suddenly at 15:00 local time (14:00 BST) the Macedonian government said.
In Skopje, Dr Jovanka Kostovska, from Macedonia's health ministry, told the Reuters press agency the dead man had had a fever and had been vomiting and bleeding internally. There were "high chances" it was not an Ebola case, the country's Health Ministry said.
"These are all symptoms of Ebola, which raises suspicions with this patient," she said. But in a statement it said officials had followed World Health Organisation procedure in closing the hotel where the man was staying and placing the residents in quarantine.
'Placed in isolation' A Macedonian government spokesman said the man's travelling companion - also British - told the authorities they had travelled directly from the UK to Skopje and had not been to any affected areas.
Later the government spokesman said the man's travelling companion told the authorities they had travelled directly from the UK to Skopje. Dr Brian McCloskey, from Public Health England, said he was aware of the reports but added: "We understand Ebola to be unlikely as the cause of death but are will continue to work with partners to investigate."
"All of the people that the authorities assume have been in contact with the person who died have been placed in isolation," he added. The outbreak has already killed more than 3,000 people and infected more than 7,200 - mostly in West Africa.
"That includes the staff of the hotel in which the person who died was staying for the past three days. We are following all the World Health Organisation protocols for a case like this."
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports and was "looking into them urgently".
The Ebola outbreak has already killed more than 3,000 people and infected more than 7,200 - mostly in West Africa.
Earlier this week a Spanish nurse became the first person to contract the deadly virus outside of West Africa.
People leaving areas affected by the outbreak have been subject to checks for some weeks, although people do not become infectious until they display symptoms.People leaving areas affected by the outbreak have been subject to checks for some weeks, although people do not become infectious until they display symptoms.
Earlier this week a Spanish nurse became the first person to contract the deadly virus outside of West Africa.
Ministers had ruled out introducing screening at UK airports, pointing out that government policy was in line with advice from the World Health Organisation.Ministers had ruled out introducing screening at UK airports, pointing out that government policy was in line with advice from the World Health Organisation.
A statement on the Department of Health's website also said: "Entry screening in the UK is not recommended by the World Health Organisation, and there are no plans to introduce entry screening for Ebola in the UK."A statement on the Department of Health's website also said: "Entry screening in the UK is not recommended by the World Health Organisation, and there are no plans to introduce entry screening for Ebola in the UK."
But in a statement, Number 10 said advice from the chief medical officer was that checks on arrivals would "offer an additional level of protection to the UK".But in a statement, Number 10 said advice from the chief medical officer was that checks on arrivals would "offer an additional level of protection to the UK".
The new checks - for those arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea - will involve "assessing passengers' recent travel history, who they have been in contact with and onward travel arrangements", Downing Street said.The new checks - for those arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea - will involve "assessing passengers' recent travel history, who they have been in contact with and onward travel arrangements", Downing Street said.
Passengers could also be subject to medical checks "by trained medical personnel rather than Border Force staff" and will be given advice on "what to do should they develop symptoms later".Passengers could also be subject to medical checks "by trained medical personnel rather than Border Force staff" and will be given advice on "what to do should they develop symptoms later".
The move was criticised by Conservative MP Rory Stewart, who told Channel 4 News: "It doesn't make sense to only screen limited places."The move was criticised by Conservative MP Rory Stewart, who told Channel 4 News: "It doesn't make sense to only screen limited places."
AnalysisAnalysis
By James Gallagher, health editor, BBC News websiteBy James Gallagher, health editor, BBC News website
The UK's stance on screening has shifted rapidly.The UK's stance on screening has shifted rapidly.
As recently as two days ago Public Health England was saying firmly there were no plans for screening arrivals.As recently as two days ago Public Health England was saying firmly there were no plans for screening arrivals.
The argument being there was exit-screening in affected countries, the WHO said it was unnecessary and it would mean screening "huge numbers of low-risk people".The argument being there was exit-screening in affected countries, the WHO said it was unnecessary and it would mean screening "huge numbers of low-risk people".
But now there will be "enhanced screening" for arrivals from affected countries.But now there will be "enhanced screening" for arrivals from affected countries.
So what has changed?So what has changed?
The chief medical officer argues concern over rising numbers of cases justifies the move, although it is not clear what assessment of the threat to the UK has changed since Tuesday.The chief medical officer argues concern over rising numbers of cases justifies the move, although it is not clear what assessment of the threat to the UK has changed since Tuesday.
However, some scientists have argued the move is more political than scientificHowever, some scientists have argued the move is more political than scientific
BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott said the announcement was more about looking like something was being done than stopping the disease's spread.BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott said the announcement was more about looking like something was being done than stopping the disease's spread.
Medical experts say the chances of someone boarding a flight with no symptoms and being contagious by the time they land was "highly, highly unlikely", our correspondent added.Medical experts say the chances of someone boarding a flight with no symptoms and being contagious by the time they land was "highly, highly unlikely", our correspondent added.
'Ineffectual tool''Ineffectual tool'
In the US temperature checks and questionnaires were introduced earlier this week for passengers arriving at some airports from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.In the US temperature checks and questionnaires were introduced earlier this week for passengers arriving at some airports from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
But speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, chairman of the government's Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens Prof George Griffin said temperature tests were "a very ineffectual tool".But speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, chairman of the government's Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens Prof George Griffin said temperature tests were "a very ineffectual tool".
"We know the clinical course of the disease now very well, a maximum incubation period of 21 days, and fever is only part of the clinical syndrome at the end of that period.""We know the clinical course of the disease now very well, a maximum incubation period of 21 days, and fever is only part of the clinical syndrome at the end of that period."
And the chairman of Public Health England Prof David Heymann said similar attempts to combat the life-threatening Sars virus in 2003 had been ineffective.And the chairman of Public Health England Prof David Heymann said similar attempts to combat the life-threatening Sars virus in 2003 had been ineffective.
"Very few people were actually found who were infected," he added."Very few people were actually found who were infected," he added.
"In fact, there's no record of anybody in most countries having been shown to be infected with Sars when they crossed the border.""In fact, there's no record of anybody in most countries having been shown to be infected with Sars when they crossed the border."