No Australian doctors for Ebola hit West Africa

29 September 2014 - 10:48 By Sapa-AP
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Image: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Australia has ruled out sending doctors to West Africa to help fight the Ebola outbreak there because of logistical problems in repatriating any Australian who became infected with the deadly virus.

Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, as well as the Australian opposition party have called on the government to send a medical team to assist in a worsening doctor shortage in West Africa where the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 3,000 people.

But Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday the Australian Health and Defense Departments had both advised that Australia could not safely evacuate Australian health workers back home.

She told reporters: "The Australian government is not about to risk the health of Australian workers in the absence of credible evacuation plans."

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now