Jovanka Kostovska, from the Commission for Infective Diseases, on Thursday evening said that a British national had died in Skopje, possibly of Ebola.

She said she could not confirm whether the person had died of Ebola, as his symptoms were also characteristic of other fatal illnesses. It would thus not be possible to confirm the cause of death before the results arrived from Germany, which are expected within 48 hours.

Everyone that the authorities believe the person came into contact with has been placed in isolation. Police have blocked entry to the hotel where the Briton was staying, as well as the entrance of the Infective Diseases clinic.

A colleague of the deceased said he had not travelled in any Ebola high-risk country. According to official information, he entered Macedonia on October 2 from the UK. In the past three days he had suffered from stomach aches and fever. He was in bed and did not leave his hotel for those three days.

At 3pm Thursday an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital. He died an hour and a half later. Doctors are now taking care of his colleague.

Medical experts have described the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as unlike anything seen since the emergence of HIV/Aids.

It started in Guinea and has since spread to other West African countries, sparking fears of a worldwide epidemic.

The disease is untreatable and is transmitted by bodily fluids, with initial symptoms of fever, muscle ache, weakness and headaches, which can lead to failure of the internal organs and death.

About 90 per cent of those suffering from the virus are reported to have died. So far more than 3,860 people have died, mainly in West Africa. More than 200 health workers are among the victims.