SWINDON charity Future In Our Hands is appealing for help to raise vital funds to stem the spread of the Ebola virus across the world.

For months the deadly virus has spread through West Africa, with more than 10,000 cases reported across Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, and fears are growing it will spread further.

There have been nine cases reported in Europe and eight in the USA, and it has been considered an international public health emergency by the United Nations since August.

Although the UK government has already donated £125m to help stall the spread and bring medical care and education to the affected countries, FIOH says this is woefully inadequate, and is asking people to help raise at least £30,000 for the charity’s own projects in Sierra Leone.

“If people are not understanding from the media the extent of the problem then they are not understanding how dangerous it is and how easily it could spread to the UK and to Swindon,” said Michael Thomas, a founding trustee and treasurer of the FIOH.

“We need to raise at least £30,000 to fund any realistic impact in the area where our projects are working.

“We have had people working in Sierra Leone for decades and our projects are now getting behind the effort, mainly with education and trying to tell people about the disease. It’s a culture where you lay hands on the dead and the hardest part of the work is preventing them from doing the things which most likely open them up to infection.

“The UK government, which has donated £125m and promises more, has taken special responsibility for practical help in Sierra Leone. However, this is totally inadequate in the light of World Health Organisation estimates of 10,000 infections a week before the end of the year.

“It is clear to me, on the basis of current statistics, that a sum close to £4bn is required immediately to provide the training and logistical help required to bring the crisis under control.

“All countries must wake up to the fact that the virus is starting to go global. This is a terrifying prospect given that 70 per cent of those infected are likely to die.”

To help with the appeal, get in touch by emailing enquiries@fiohnetowrk.org.

To donate send cheques to Future in Our Hands E&D Fund at 48 Churchward Avenue, Swindon SN2 1NH. Visit www.fiohnetwork.org/fiohfund