New Year's Honours: Awards for doctors who fought Ebola outbreak

Dr Michael Jacobs, of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said he was 'honoured and humbled'

(PA)

Several British medics have been honoured for their dedicated efforts towards fighting the Ebola epidemic in west Africa. Dr Michael Jacobs, of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said he was “honoured and humbled” to be knighted for services towards the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

The consultant successfully treated nurses Pauline Cafferkey and Will Pooley, and Army reservist Anna Cross after they contracted the disease in Sierra Leone.

“It is the nature of honours systems that they recognise individuals, but this truly was a team effort and I can’t praise too highly my exceptional, dedicated and skilful colleagues at the Royal Free,” said Dr Jacobs. “I am particularly grateful for the tremendous support and opportunities that they have given me.”

Grace Jackson, 24, is the youngest person from the Department for International Development to be appointed OBE. She is honoured for her work with the Ebola response team in Sierra Leone and later at five UK treatment centres.

Other awards include a CBE for Dr Timothy Brooks, who directs Public Health England’s (PHE) Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, which led the UK laboratory response to the outbreak in Sierra Leone.

Also appointed OBE is Dr Jenny Harries, PHE’s regional director for the South of England, who led the response to David Cameron’s request to establish Ebola screening at the main UK ports of entry.

Dr Harries delivered a core part of the UK’s resilience to Ebola, as more than 6,000 passengers were screened and all returning workers from affected areas monitored for 21 days to ensure they remained well.

Click here for the full 2016 New Year's Honours list