A BRITISH national living in Sierra Leone has tested positive for the ebola virus, health chiefs have confirmed.

It is the first reported case of a Briton contracting the deadly disease during the recent outbreak, which has killed at least 1427 people.

Professor John Watson, the UK's deputy chief medical officer, said: "The overall risk to the public in the UK continues to be very low. Medical experts are currently assessing the situation in Sierra Leone to ensure that appropriate care is provided.

"We have robust, well-developed and well-tested NHS systems for managing unusual infectious diseases."