Ebola: Patient being tested for deadly disease at UK hospital

A BRITISH hospital has today been testing a person with a "history of travelling to West Africa" for the deadly Ebola disease.

An Ebola medic and a picture of the virusPA

A person has been tested for Ebola at a hospital in Eastbourne

Public Health England (PHE) said they have received a sample from a patient at Eastbourne District General Hospital for precautionary testing.

There has only been one confirmed case of Ebola diagnosed in the UK and the British health agency said the risk to the public remains "very low".

A PHE spokesperson said: "Public Health England can confirm it has received a sample for precautionary Ebola testing, involving an individual in Eastbourne District General Hospital with a history of travel to West Africa. 

"Ebola is considered unlikely but testing is being done as a precaution. Based on the evidence-based risk assessment protocol, we are confident that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure there is no risk to public health."

Since August last year 177 people have been tested for Ebola in the UK.

A picture of the Ebola strainAP

There has only been one confirmed case of Ebola in the UK

Ebola is considered unlikely but testing is being done as a precaution

A Public Health England (PHE) spokesperson

Only one person turned out to be infected, Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey who has since made a full recovery from the disease.

The PHE spokesperson added: "Although there has been one confirmed case diagnosed in UK, the risk of Ebola to the general public in the UK remains very low. 

"Ebola can only be transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. 

"We have well established and practised infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and our systems have demonstrated that the UK is able to manage a case of Ebola when identified."

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