This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28558783

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ebola virus potential threat to UK, chief scientist warns Ebola virus a threat to UK, Philip Hammond warns
(35 minutes later)
The Ebola virus and other deadly foreign diseases are a "potential major threat" to Britain, government's chief scientist has warned. The Ebola virus, which has killed more than 670 people in West Africa, is a "threat" to the UK, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has told the BBC.
Sir Mark Walport told the Daily Telegraph Ebola was a threat because of how "interconnected" the world is now. So far no Britons have been affected and there are no cases in the UK, but the government is viewing the outbreak very seriously, Mr Hammond said.
Public Health England has issued a national alert to UK doctors amid fears the virus, which has killed some 670 people in West Africa, could spread. He said he would chair an emergency Cobra meeting on the issue later.
It comes after an infected Liberian man travelled through a Nigerian airport. It comes after Public Health England issued a national alert to UK doctors amid fears the virus could spread.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Ebola was "a threat" and he would chair an emergency Cobra meeting about it later on Wednesday. Last week an infected Liberian man was found to have travelled through a major Nigerian airport.
Spreading virus
Several West African airlines have now stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone over concerns about the outbreak.Several West African airlines have now stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone over concerns about the outbreak.
Speaking to the paper, Sir Mark said: "The most dangerous infections of humans have always been those which have emerged from other species. They are a potential major threat to us. Spreading virus
Mr Hammond told BBC News the government was "absolutely focused" on tackling the threat posed by the disease, including looking at "whether there are precautions we need to take - either in the UK or to protect our nationals in the area abroad".
He went on: "At the moment we don't think any British nationals [abroad] are affected and we are fairly confident there are no cases in the UK.
"But it is a threat, it is something we need to respond to and we will be doing so through the Cobra mechanism."
Earlier, the government's chief scientist Sir Mark Walport told the Daily Telegraph Ebola was a threat because of how "interconnected" the world was now.
Sir Mark said: "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."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 have to think about risk and managing risk appropriately."
Mr Hammond told the BBC he would hold a meeting of the government's Cobra committee later to discuss the virus' potential threat to the country.
"At the moment we don't think any British nationals [abroad] are affected and we are fairly confident there are no cases in the UK.
"But it is a threat, it is something we need to respond to and we will be doing so through the Cobra mechanism."
Elsewhere, Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at Public Health England, said the outbreak was "clearly not yet under control" in West Africa.Elsewhere, Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at Public Health England, said the outbreak was "clearly not yet under control" in West Africa.
He told the Independent: "We have been talking to all levels of government, including the prime minister's office, on the West Africa situation.He told the Independent: "We have been talking to all levels of government, including the prime minister's office, on the West Africa situation.
"When these things start to escalate we work with everybody to ensure they are aware of what needs to happen.""When these things start to escalate we work with everybody to ensure they are aware of what needs to happen."
BBC global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar said the West African outbreak has been ongoing for four months. BBC global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar said the West African outbreak had been ongoing for four months.
In that time local people have been looking after the sick and carrying out burials which actually can help spread the virus, she added, because it is spread by touching skin and bodily fluids. In that time local people have been looking after the sick and carrying out burials which can actually help to spread the virus, she added, because it is spread by touching skin and contact with bodily fluids.
Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
The outbreak - the world's deadliest to date - was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)