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A man has been rushed to hospital to be tested for the deadly ebola virus after becoming ill in Llandudno.

The unnamned man, who has a history of travel to western Africa, has been taken to Liverpool for tests.

Leanne Wilkinson, who was in Llandudno at the time, said she saw police and ambulance activity around the waterfront, where there were crowds gathered to look at the steamer MV Balmoral.

Men in white protective suits were seen in the area, and other eyewitnesses reported seeing a convoy of police cars and an ambulance travelling up the A55 at speed.

Ms Wilkinson told the Daily Post: "There was something major happening in Llandudno.

"The block at the very top of town was totally blocked off by police. You couldn't get behind any of the buildings and there were police everywhere. It looked serious.

"They blocked off all the entrances with police cars with their blue lights on and there are lots of police in the alley ways."

It is understood the man is not from North Wales.

Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales can confirm that a man with a history of travel to west Africa has been admitted to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital for assessment.

“The clinicians may test for Ebola and other haemorrhagic fevers if they consider it necessary.

“Based on our established, evidence-based risk assessment protocol, we are confident that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure there is no risk to public health.”

Fears of Ebola in Bangor quashed

Dr Lyons continued: “The infection can only be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an unwell person who has Ebola.

“We have advised all frontline medical practitioners dealing with patients to be alert to signs and symptoms of Ebola in those returning from affected areas.”

The World Health Organisation says Ebola has killed more than 10,000 people in Africa since 2013.