Royal Navy prepares for Ebola deployment

MOD will provide hundreds of troops, an aviation support ship and 3 Merlin helicopters as the UK ramps up its efforts to tackle Ebola.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon laid out the measures at an emergency COBR committee meeting today, chaired by the Prime Minister, to discuss the UK’s response to the Ebola crisis which is being led by the Department for International Development.

Mr Fallon said:

"The Ebola outbreak in west Africa is already a global threat to public health and it’s vital that the UK remains at the forefront of responding to the epidemic.

"Following today's meeting we are stepping up significantly the UK's contribution and leadership in work to tackle the outbreak on land, in the air and at sea.

"At the heart of the package is the commitment to provide more than 750 personnel to help with the establishment of Ebola treatment centres and an Ebola training academy.

"We are deploying troops, helicopters and a ship – army medics and Merlin helicopters supported by RFA Argus – to provide direct support and reassurance."

The UK’s new pledge for military involvement will include: