A Senegalese hygienist demonstrates how to protect oneself against the Ebola virus at Dakar airport. Photo: AFP
Customs officers are looking out for sick people in Australian airports who could be carrying Ebola as fear mounts about the world’s largest outbreak of the deadly disease.
A spokeswoman for the federal government said while the chance of Ebola coming to Australia was ‘‘very low’’, all border protection agencies had been told to look out for the possibility of it when identifying sick people entering Australian ports.
GPs and other clinicians have also been briefed to stay vigilant when meeting people who show symptoms after recent travel.
‘‘A meeting has also been convened of the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia, consisting of the key infectious diseases doctors, with all state and territory health authorities represented to discuss the possibility of the disease coming to Australia and ways to respond,’’ the spokeswoman said.