A VOLUNTEER who had potential contact with Ebola has been transferred from Gatwick Airport to East Surrey Hospital tonight (Friday) to be monitored.
The aid worker is thought to have potentially been exposed to the deadly virus while volunteering in Sierra Leone West Africa.
Public Health England says the individual has not been diagnosed with Ebola, does not currently have any symptoms, and their risk of developing the infection remains low.
The authority emphasised the measures were precautionary.
On arrival at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, the patient will be initially assessed and subsequently monitored for any symptoms for the remainder of their 21 day incubation periods, in line with standard procedures for returning workers.
A second individual has also been flown back to the UK who also had potential contact with Ebola in a separate incident.
One had potential exposure to the virus in a frontline care setting after their personal protective equipment was damaged, but they had no contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an Ebola patient during this time.
The other had potential exposure from contact with a healthcare worker who recently died and was subsequently diagnosed with Ebola.
Dr Jenny Harries, regional director for PHE, said: "The risk to the public posed by these and indeed any of the returning workers is extremely low.
"We are confident that all appropriate public health actions have been taken, and will continue to be taken, to support these individuals and to protect the public's health."
