Ebola risk in Europe ‘extremely low’

An outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) first noted in December 2013 continued to evolve in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in West Africa during 2014.

Experts from the EU agency the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in July 2014 that the risk of Ebola reaching the EU was 'extremely low' but the possibility could not be ruled out entirely.

The European Commission announced on the 30 July 2014 that it was allocating an additional €2m to respond to the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded. This brought the Commission's aid to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to €3.9m.

• Primary Source

European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) : Epidemiological update: Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/_layouts/forms/News_DispForm.aspx?List=8db7286c-fe2d-476c-9133-18ff4cb1b568&ID=1035

European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) : Health Topics: Ebola and Marburg fevers http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/ebola_marburg_fevers/Pages/index.aspx

The Guardian, 30.07.14: Ebola outbreak: Britain has expertise to cope, say ministers http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/30/ebola-outbreak-uk-ministers-emergecny-cobra-meeting

ESO: Background information: EU scales up funding in response to Ebola outbreak in West Africa http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-scales-up-funding-in-response-to-ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa/

EurActiv, 31.07.14: EU scales up aid to tackle Ebola outbreak in West Africa http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/eu-scales-aid-tackle-ebola-outbreak-west-africa-303811

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