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Briton dies of suspected Ebola in Macedonia

A Briton has died of suspected Ebola in Macedonia. A second Briton has shown symptoms of the dead...
Newstalk
Newstalk

19.10 9 Oct 2014


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Briton dies of suspected Ebola...

Briton dies of suspected Ebola in Macedonia

Newstalk
Newstalk

19.10 9 Oct 2014


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A Briton has died of suspected Ebola in Macedonia.

A second Briton has shown symptoms of the deadly virus, a senior Macedonian government official told Reuters.

The Macedonian foreign ministry confirmed to Sky News that a UK national has died in hospital in the capital Skopje, and tests are being carried out to see if he had ebola.

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The hotel in Skopje where he had been staying has been sealed off.

Staff and another Briton remain inside, a spokesman for the Macedonian health ministry said.

If confirmed it would be the first death of a UK national from ebola, which has so far killed more than 3,800 people in West Africa.

British nurse Will Pooley was cured of the virus last month after working as a volunteer nurse in Sierra Leone.

The news came as ministers said passengers arriving at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Eurostar train terminals are to be screened for signs of the disease.

The Government, which previously said checks would be impractical and ineffective, announced "enhanced screening" for travellers arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The tests will involve assessing their recent travel history, who they have been in contact with, and a possible medical assessment.

Concern about the virus spreading across Europe has grown since Spain confirmed it was dealing with the first confirmed case caught outside Africa.

Australia is also examining a possible case after an ebola nurse returned to Queensland from Sierra Leone.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the world to step up its efforts at a summit attended by the leaders of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.


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