Australia ready for any Ebola outbreak: PM

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia is well placed to tackle the deadly Ebola virus should it reach our shores.

Tony Abbott visits an infectious disease centre in Melbourne.

Tony Abbott has warned Australians they must not be complacent about the deadly Ebola virus. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned Australians they must not be complacent about the deadly Ebola virus that is sweeping West Africa.

He says all visitors to Australia from West Africa have been screened for some weeks now.

Spruiking the government's medical research fund - which is supposed to be funded by the controversial proposed $7 GP co-payment - Mr Abbott said Australia is well-placed to deal with such dreadful diseases because of its medical researchers.

"Our country is prepared for any such eventuality," he said, opening the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne on Friday.

"The last thing we want is complacency in the face of this latest natural scourge."

Mr Abbott's warning came after a Gold Coast man suspected of contracting Ebola was given the all-clear on Thursday.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world