Ex-British Council Leader Found Dead After Visiting Nigeria

A former British council leader, Andy Smith, who was found dead at his
home, had just returned from Nigeria, sparking fears that he might
have contracted the Ebola virus disease.

Smith, 64, was found dead just five days after he had returned from
Nigeria, according to Echo news, a local British newspaper.

His death, according to the paper, led to a hazardous medical team
being called in to assess his body before tests later confirmed he did
not have the killer disease.

Smith, was a Labour councillor in West Thurrock and South Stifford and
cabinet member on Thurrock Council having led the council as leader in
the late 90s.

A spokesman for Public Health England said that Smith had been to
Nigeria and West Africa, but not in infected areas and Ebola had been
ruled out as the cause of his death.

Responding to the 999 call it received to attend his home in Nutberry
Avenue, in Grays, last Tuesday, the East of England Ambulance Service
sent a hazardous area response team who entered the property and
confirmed that the former council leader was deceased.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said, "Public Health England
were alerted due to the man's travel history.

"We have a protocols in place instructing staff on how to act when
dealing with suspected cases of a variety of diseases, including
ebola."

Police confirmed that a post-mortem examination revealed he had died
suddenly - not as a result of ebola - and that a file had been passed
to the coroner.

Tributes have been paid to Mr. Smith with John Kent, the Labour leader
of Thurrock Council, saying his loss would "have an impact on many
people".

He added, "Andy was a tremendous and hard-working councillor and was
well known among his current constituents in West Thurrock and South
Stifford ward."

Rob Gledhill, leader of the Conservative group in Thurrock, said, "We
are sorry to hear of the passing of Councillor Andy Smith and would
pass on our condolences to his family.

"Smith had served the residents of Thurrock for over two decades and
will no doubt be missed by many. His years of experience and
dedication to politics and the community in Thurrock will not be soon
forgotten."