Australia hires private medical firm to fight Ebola in west Africa

Australia on Wednesday said it would pay a private healthcare firm to help manage and run a British military field hospital to treat Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, dpa reported.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government would contract the medical services company to facilitate the deployment of volunteer doctors and nurses at the hospital.
The United States and Britain had requested Australia's support on the ground in fighting the highly infectious virus in West Africa.
'We have been particularly concerned that any Australian personnel going to West Africa should be able to access appropriate treatment and evacuation procedures,' Abbott told reporters.
Britain has given assurances that it would provide treatment to Australian health workers who become infected while on duty in Ebola-hit parts of West Africa, he said.
Abbott said he hoped the 100-bed hospital would be operational by the end of the month.