Comment on Ebola: Prof Ian Jones believes the likelihood of Ebola coming to the UK is very low
Release Date 30 July 2014
Leading UK virologist Professor Ian Jones, from the University of Reading's School of Biological Sciences, provides comment on the Ebola virus outbreak
"The likelihood of Ebola coming to the UK is very low. Even if an infected individual travelled they would likely be identified and isolated at, or soon after, arrival effectively preventing any further spread.
"The spread in West Africa is mostly among a rural population who do not trust medical intervention and education. That would not be the case here.
"Virus transmission requires close or actual body contact so early quarantine both prevents spread and offers the quarantined individual the best survival outcome. Ebola is not like influenza and never will be.
"Today's COBRA meeting assumes the worst and will doubtless seek to have all preparative measures in place in the event of a case arriving in the UK."