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Ebola crisis: British army medics travel to West Africa Ebola crisis: British army medics travel to West Africa
(about 1 hour later)
British army medics are on their way to West Africa to help in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.British army medics are on their way to West Africa to help in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
A team of 91 medics from 22 Field Hospital in Aldershot will run a hospital in Sierra Leone, set aside for healthcare workers who risk infection.A team of 91 medics from 22 Field Hospital in Aldershot will run a hospital in Sierra Leone, set aside for healthcare workers who risk infection.
The nurses, doctors and infectious disease consultants will join 40 soldiers already in the West African country.The nurses, doctors and infectious disease consultants will join 40 soldiers already in the West African country.
Ebola has killed more than 4,500 people, nearly all in West Africa.Ebola has killed more than 4,500 people, nearly all in West Africa.
The British medics are travelling ahead of the departure of Royal Navy ship the RFA Argus on Friday. The British medics left ahead of the departure of Royal Navy ship the RFA Argus on Friday.
It is expected to reach the area by the end of the month with a further 225 military personnel from a total planned deployment of 750. The Argus is expected to reach the region by the end of the month, with a further 225 military personnel from a total planned deployment of 750.
It comes as the World Health Organization said a major outbreak of the deadly virus in the US and elsewhere in the West was unlikely given the strong health systems there. Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, is expected to chair the latest meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee to discuss the UK's response.
It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) said a major outbreak of the deadly virus in the US and elsewhere in the West was unlikely given the strong health systems there.
The US is also investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in Texas was allowed to travel on a plane.The US is also investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in Texas was allowed to travel on a plane.
'Defeat this disease' 'Defeat disease'
The UK army personnel, who will be based at Kerrytown, around 30 miles from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, received nine days of intensive training in treating those affected with the disease. The UK personnel, who will be based at Kerrytown, around 30 miles from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, received nine days of intensive training in treating those affected with the disease.
Those travelling on Thursday are usually based at Normandy Barracks in Aldershot.
The treatment unit will contain 12 beds and run alongside a facility which will eventually be run by Save the Children.The treatment unit will contain 12 beds and run alongside a facility which will eventually be run by Save the Children.
Lieutenant Colonel Alison McCourt said: "We need to provide sufficient reassurance to healthcare workers that will encourage them to come and help defeat this disease." Lieutenant Colonel Alison McCourt, of 22 Field Hospital, based at Normandy Barracks in Aldershot, said: "We need to provide sufficient reassurance to healthcare workers that will encourage them to come and help defeat this disease.
"This unit has been the 'Vanguard' medical regiment for the past 20 months which means we are on high readiness to deploy at short notice to anywhere in the world - although this is a bit different and provides us with a challenge, we are perfectly suited to this kind of task.
"I firmly believe we can make a significant difference."
In a video conference call between Mr Cameron, US president Barack Obama and the leaders of Germany, France and Italy on Wednesday, it was agreed the world faced "the most serious international public health emergency in recent years" and the international community "needed to do much more and faster to halt the rise of the disease", said Downing Street.
The most urgent priorities included "increasing the amount of international spending on the issue, increasing the number of trained personnel working in the region to treat those affected and prevent the disease spreading and evacuation procedures for workers affected".
Measures have been taken to ensure officials can handle any potential cases of the virus in the UK.
Passengers arriving at Heathrow from countries at risk of the virus will be screened for symptoms by nurses and consultants from Public Health England.
They will have their temperatures taken, complete a risk questionnaire and have contact details recorded.
Screening at Gatwick and the Eurostar is expected to be in place by the end of the week.
How not to catch Ebola: