Jelf Employee Benefits is raising awareness on overseas health risks and the need for medical evacuation as part of international private medical policies, following an outbreak of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.
The BBC reported that a number of "non-essential" staff at British firm, London Mining in Sierra Leone had left the country following an outbreak of the Ebola virus.
Iron ore company London Mining told the BBC that essential staff continued to travel in and out of the country and it was carefully monitoring the health of all of its employees while non-essential travel of its staff to the region has been restricted.
James Spencer, international development manager for Jelf Employee Benefits said the risk of major infectious diseases for employers with staff in West Africa "has never been higher."
Spencer added: "Ordinarily, we advise clients in the region to have a comprehensive pre-treatment and vaccination programme against well-known risks, including Malaria and Yellow Fever before they enter a country.
"In recent weeks, as the lethal Ebola virus spreads across the region, employers are relying on advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), their medical assistance providers, insurers and brokers to affect a medical and non-medical evacuation plan."
Spencer concluded: "While prevention and pre-screening are important, it is in these instances when a defined emergency plan, supported by experienced vendors with expert staff comes into its own, and we would always recommend that Medical Evacuation is included within any international healthcare policy in the region."
