THE North-East has been at the centre of a major exercise to test the country's readiness in the event of an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

Hospitals, laboratories and emergency services across the country have been put to the test today in a major eight hour exercise.

Actors were used to test hospitals' ability to react to a major bio-hazard emergency.

In the North-East, a 'shopper' collapsed with Ebola-like symptoms and had to be rushed to hospital by medics trained to deal with the threat.

The Northern Echo:

 

SUSPECT: An actor playing an Ebola sufferer arrives at the RVI this afternoon

 

The patient was taken to the Royal Vistoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, and placed in the infectious diseases unit where they can be treated without fear of transmitting the virus, which has already killed thousands in west Africa.

The RVI is one of four designated Ebola treatment centres in England - the others being at the Royal Free, in London, plus Liverpool and Sheffield.

Samples were sent for urgent testing at the Government's top secret Porton Down germ warfare laboratories in Wiltshire and, after returning an Ebola diagnosis, the patient was transferred to the Royal Free hospital.

In a bid to test the London centre's resilience a second case happened when a patient who had recently returned from west Africa went to the Hillingdon walk-in centre in west London, complaining of flu-like symptoms and tested positive.

In both cases efforts began immediately to trace and isolate close contacts of the victims.

David Cameron ordered the exercise - the biggest nationwide NHS test for decades - following a meeting called to discuss the implcations of the Ebola epidemic currently raging through westy African countries.

Experts have predicted the virus could reach the UK by the end of the month and ministers are determined the NHS will be ready to react appropriately when it does.

Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, said: “This vitally important exercise gave a very realistic test of how prepared the system is to deal with a case of Ebola. Today has included a variety of scenarios involving personnel from hospitals, ambulance services and local authorities around the country.”

The exercise was monitored by key ministers, including health minister Jeremy Hunt who convened an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee in London.