Britain is deploying 750 defence personnel, including soldiers and medics to western Africa to join international efforts to combat the spread of Ebola.
They are heading to Sierra Leone, one of the three countries that have borne the brunt of the deadly outbreak, where they will help to build treatment facilities to look after the rapidly growing number of victims, and provide training for medics to deal with the virus.
Five new cases are being reported in Sierra Leone every five hours as the rate of infection accelerates across west Africa.
The deployment was agreed at a meeting of Cobra, Whitehall’s emergencies committee, which was chaired by David Cameron today. It is being backed by the dispatch of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus and three Merlin helicopters to the affected area.
Announcing the moves, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is already a global threat to public health and it is vital that the UK remains at the forefront of responding to the epidemic.
He said: “We are stepping up significantly the UK’s contribution and leadership in work to tackle the outbreak, on land, in the air and at sea. At the heart of the package is the commitment to provide more than 750 personnel to help with the establishment of Ebola Treatment Centres and an Ebola Training Academy”, Independent informs.
