The unusually and tragically high numbers of people affected by the current outbreak of Ebola in western Africa is causing worldwide anxiety – especially since a small number of cases have been treated in the USA and Europe. The current outbreak affects three countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – and is the largest known outbreak of Ebola. So what are the chances of an outbreak of the disease here in the UK?
Ebola is a serious, usually fatal, viral disease for which there are as yet no licensed treatments or vaccines, but despite the dreadful experience for those in affected countries, it continues to be a very low threat beyond that area. It is perhaps notable that the spread of the disease appears to be largely contained to three countries and even the many adjacent nations appear to be limiting the threat to isolated cases. So far there has been just one case of Ebola in the UK – a nurse brought here for treatment after caring for patients in Africa – and experts believe it is highly unlikely the disease will spread within the UK.
People can become infected with the Ebola virus if they come into contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. A person infected with Ebola virus will typically develop fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat and muscle weakness. They do not become potentially infective to others until they have developed symptoms, so people who have contracted the virus have not been walking around spreading the disease to others before such symptoms arise. These symptoms start suddenly, usually between 2 and 21 days after becoming infected.
If you or someone you know feels unwell with the above symptoms within 21 days of coming back from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone, you should stay at home and immediately telephone 111 or 999 and explain that you have recently visited West Africa. It is important to note that despite its high mortality rate, Ebola is actually much less infectious than ‘flu or common cold, requiring close contact with infected patients. Advice has been issued to the Border Force to identify possible cases ofEbola and there are procedures in place to provide care to the patient and to minimise public health risk to others. Isolation of infected people and very well planned procedures will ensure that even if any more cases are reported in the UK, the risk of an outbreak will remain very low.