The NHS Trust running hospitals serving Redbridge is currently training staff to deal with an outbreak of the Ebola virus. 

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust (BHRUT), which runs King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford, says it is fully prepared if a case is identified. 

Nearly 1,000 people have died from the infection in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, while cases have been recorded in surrounding countries in West Africa.

Last week the outbreak was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

Symptoms include fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage.

Ian Hosein, director of infection prevention at BHRUT said: “It is important that people understand that ebola is not an airborne virus, so it cannot be spread without extremely close contact.

“However, we are fully prepared to deal with any suspected cases, as are our colleagues in community care.

“We have a well-tested system for dealing with any known or suspected cases of the disease.”

A spokesperson for Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Local GPs have all received the latest guidance on Ebola and know what to do in the unlikely event that they see a patient with symptoms.”