AN EBOLA outbreak in Sierra Leone is being monitored by Glasgow's health board ahead of the arrival of the country's Commonwealth Games athletes.

A statement issued yesterday moved to reassure delegates that the risk of infection is "extremely low".

However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has sought advice from top doctors at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

So far, more than 750 people in West Africa have been infected by the haemorrhagic fever virus, and 468 of these have died.

A joint statement issued by NHSGGC, Health Protection Scotland and Games organisers Glasgow 2014 said: "Based on current advice from the World Health Organisa-tion, we estimate that the risk to the delegates from Sierra Leone is extremely low.

"Nevertheless, we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and communicating with international colleagues to ensure we are up to date with all appropriate and available information so that we can assess and communi-cate any change in risk."

Ebola is spread through contact with body fluids and it kills 90% of those infected. There is no vaccine or cure.

Medical staff are trained to immediately isolate patients who show symptoms, which include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases internal and external bleeding.

The statement said: "Members of the Sierra Leone 2014 team will not be treated any differently from those arriving from other countries.

"Human-to-human transmission of the Ebola virus is primarily associated with direct or indirect contact with blood and body fluids of infected individuals.

"Standard precautions will be applied in dealing with all clients and patients attending Commonwealth Games medical venues during games time."

The NHS insisted it is well prepared if a patient was found to have Ebola.

The statement added: "Appropriate provision for any patients with infectious diseases is in place at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's specialist Brownlee Unit based on the Gartnavel Hospital Campus.

"Indeed last year this unit treated a patient with viral haemorrhagic fever which was the first case of its kind in the UK."

peter.swindon@eveningtimes.co.uk