Fears grow that deadly Ebola virus could reach UK as Africa suffers worst outbreak ever

The virus is one of the deadliest known to man, killing on average six in ten victims.
West Africa is currently in the grip of the worst outbreak of the virus, with over 1,200 people becoming infected, resulting in 670 deaths in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Experts now fear that it could spread beyond West Africa and reach British shores.
Last week, a man died of the virus after flying from Liberia to Nigeria, raising concerns that international air travel could cause the disease to spread.
Doctors across Britain have now been warned to watch out for victims of Ebola Hemmorrhagic Fever, the disease caused by the ebola virus.
Cambridge University’s Dr Peter Walsh, a lecturer in archaeology and anthropology and Ebola expert, said: "It’s possible someone infected will fly to Heathrow having infected other people sitting next to them or by using the toilet.
"This strain of Ebola is probably the second most deadly virus in the world after canine rabies. If you get canine rabies, you’re going to die, but we also have vaccines for that.
"This is worse than anthrax, but there are vaccines and treatments for anthrax, too."

This is worse than anthrax

Dr Peter Walsh

However, he said that an outbreak similar to that in Africa would be unlikely in the event of the virus reaching Britain.
He said: "Ebola is pretty containable with modern methods in modern countries. You won’t see a major outbreak in the UK."
Victims develop symptoms between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus.
These include a fever, throat and muscle pain, and headaches.
Later symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea.
There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for sufferers, and the virus kills between 50-90 per cent of victims, depending on the strain contracted.