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Ebola: 'British man dies of deadly virus in Macedonia and one other taken ill' | Ebola: 'British man dies of deadly virus in Macedonia and one other taken ill' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Officials are urgently investigating reports that a British man has died of Ebola in Macedonia and another has contracted the disease. | |
The Britons, who are believed to be friends, had travelled to the country from the London on 2 October, according to a spokesman for the Macedonian Foreign Ministry who confirmed the death. | |
The patients had been staying at a hotel in the capital, Skopje, when they fell ill. The now-deceased man was admitted to the city’s Clinic for Infectious Diseases at around 3pm local, according to a Macedonian government official. He died around two hours later. | |
His friend remains under observation at the hospital, as medical staff attempt to confirm whether the pair were infected with Ebola. | |
Dr Jovanka Kostovska of the Ministry's commission for infectious diseases said the man had been suffering from a fever, vomiting and internal bleeding, and that his condition deteriorated rapidly. | |
"These are all symptoms of Ebola, which raises suspicions with this patient," Kostovska told a news conference. Samples from the man had been sent to Germany for tests to confirm the cause of death, she added. | "These are all symptoms of Ebola, which raises suspicions with this patient," Kostovska told a news conference. Samples from the man had been sent to Germany for tests to confirm the cause of death, she added. |
Hotel staff and the ambulance crew that took them to the clinic were put into isolation as the authorities tried to prevent the disease spreading. | |
The hotel has since been sealed off in an attempt to contain the disease, according to authorities. | The hotel has since been sealed off in an attempt to contain the disease, according to authorities. |
"We are looking to see what are the reasons according to the protocols of the World Health Organisation," he added. | "We are looking to see what are the reasons according to the protocols of the World Health Organisation," he added. |
In the UK a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of reports and we are looking into them urgently.” | In the UK a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of reports and we are looking into them urgently.” |
If confirmed, the person would be the first UK national to die from the deadly virus, after British nurse Will Pooley was cured of Ebola last month. | If confirmed, the person would be the first UK national to die from the deadly virus, after British nurse Will Pooley was cured of Ebola last month. |
The news came as Downing Street said enhanced screening for Ebola will be introduced at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and Eurostar terminals following advice from the Chief Medical Officer. | The news came as Downing Street said enhanced screening for Ebola will be introduced at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and Eurostar terminals following advice from the Chief Medical Officer. |
Two months ago the Macedonian authorities announced they had introduced prevention measures at all airports. Passengers with Ebola-like symptoms were to be immediately isolated and taken to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases. | Two months ago the Macedonian authorities announced they had introduced prevention measures at all airports. Passengers with Ebola-like symptoms were to be immediately isolated and taken to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases. |
Dr Jovanka Kostovska, of the Commission for Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, said in August that “all necessary” preventative measures were being taken at airports. | Dr Jovanka Kostovska, of the Commission for Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, said in August that “all necessary” preventative measures were being taken at airports. |
The World Health Organisation was last night unable to confirm whether anyone has contracted or died of Ebola in Macedonia. | The World Health Organisation was last night unable to confirm whether anyone has contracted or died of Ebola in Macedonia. |
Additional reporting by Reuters and AP | Additional reporting by Reuters and AP |