Ebola Claims First British Victim; Briton Dies Of Suspected Ebola In Macedonia

If confirmed, the unnamed 58-year-old is the first British victim of the Ebola outbreak that has killed thousands in West Africa and has spread to North America and Europe.

A second man, a friend of the deceased, has also shown symptoms of the disease. The man's death and nationality was confirmed by the Macedonian Foreign Ministry this evening.

The spokesman said the friend told the authorities there they had travelled to Skopje directly from Britain and had not been in any country known to have Ebola outbreaks - raising the terrifying possibility that he contracted the disease in the UK or Macedonia.

The UK Foreign Office says it is investigating the incident. So far the epidemic, the worst on record since Ebola was discovered in 1976, has claimed 3,800 lives and infected at least 8,000 people. See photos after cut.....

The unnamed man is the first UK victim of Ebola, if disease is confirmed. The epidemic has killed 3,800 and infected at least 8,000 so far. Macedonian authorities confirmed the dead man's nationality this evening. Health officials have also quarantined his friend, who has symptoms. The friend said the two travelled to Skopje directly from Britain. This raises the terrifying prospect that they contracted it in the UK. Paramedics and staff at Skopje hotel where men stayed also in quarantineA British man has died of suspected Ebola in the Macedonian capital of Skopje.

                                

                                

Macedonian TV station Alfa TV reported the patient was admitted to an infection clinic in the city with symptoms of the disease.
When admitted to the hospital, the patient was unable to communicate and passed away shortly after. Tests are underway to find out if he had the disease.
A spokesman from the Macedonian foreign ministry said: 'I can confirm that a British person has died and he is in the state hospital in Skopje.
'We are looking to see what are the reasons according to the protocols of the World Health Organization.
'There was a friend with him and he has also been retained in the hospital and the crew from the ambulance are also retained in the hospital.' 
The incubation period for Ebola can be between two and 21 days.
A Health Ministry official said the man had arrived in  Skopje, from Britain a week ago and had been rushed to hospital at 3pm on Thursday, where he died several hours later.

                        

                         

Jovanka Kostovska, left, of the Macedonian Health Ministry, speaks to the media during a news conference after a 58-year-old Briton died of severe internal bleeding shortly after being taken to a hospital from his hotel