Australia won't send Ebola doctors to West Africa

(AP)—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."

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Australia won't send Ebola doctors to West Africa (2014, September 29) retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-australia-wont-ebola-doctors-west.html
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