'We don't want to go home': Ebola outbreak sparks plea from Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Games team not to return to Africa

Members of Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Games team do not want to return home amid fears they could catch the killer Ebola virus, it has been reported.
Unisa Deen Kargbo, the team's chef de mission, said athletes are worried about the situation in their home country, where a public health emergency over the virus has been declared.
His comments came after it was revealed that Sierra Leone cyclist Moses Sesay, 32, was admitted to a Glasgow hospital and tested for various conditions, including Ebola. A second unidentified team member was tested, but tested negative.

According to the chef de mission of the team, members of the Sierra Leone delegation, pictured here at the opening ceremony, do not want to return home because of fears they will catch the Ebola virus

Chef de mission of Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Team Unisa Deen Kargbo, pictured right meeting the Queen at the Games, made the comments earlier today

It also follows reports that the team's mountain biking champion Mohamed Tholley, who was due to compete in the time trial event in Glasgow on Thursday, allegedly failed to turn up so he could avoid having to fly home.
Today officials said they knew the whereabouts of Mr Tholley and that he was not missing.
Now Mr Kargbo has reportedly said the Ebola crisis - which has been blamed for 729 deaths in an outbreak in four west African countries - is stopping other athletes from wanting to return home.
The Ebola virus is fatal in 90 per cent of cases and there is no vaccine and no known cure.
He told the Times: 'Many people are thinking whether or not to go home now. Everybody is worried and many of them don't want to go home now because of the Ebola.
'We have held several meetings with them, but they are still worried. This virus is spreading around our country and everyone is at risk of catching it.
'The problem is, if they want to stay on after the Commonwealth Games end, who will take care of them? They will have no accommodation, no work.
'How do they meet their needs? How will they get themselves employed?'

Cyclist Moses Sesay was isolated for four days in Glasgow while he was tested for a number of conditions, including Ebola

MSF struggling against Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone

But Jackie Brock-Doyle, a spokeswoman for Glasgow 2014, said it would not be possible for the athletes to stay on in the village, even if they wanted to.
She said: 'The athletes' village closes on Wednesday and is being decommissioned on Thursday, so it will become a building site within a matter of hours.
'We had a meeting with the chef de mission this morning and all his plan to take his entire team back to Sierra Leone on their flight on Tuesday still stands.'
Speaking about Mr Tholley, she added: 'The chef de mission knows where the cyclist is. The cyclist is not missing.
'He is aware of where the athlete is and the police are not involved. Police Scotland issued a statement last night saying they have not been asked to find him.'

Sierra Leone cyclist Mohamed Tholley is 'not missing' and his chef de mission knows his whereabouts, a Games spokesman has said

According to a report in yesterday's Telegraph, Mr Kargbo said the cyclist could have gone missing so he did not have to return to Sierra Leone.
He told the paper: 'Unfortunately one of our athletes has not turned up for his event and we do not know where he is. It is possible he is not coming back.
'The situation is very serious at home, and it is possible this is why he does not want to return. It is very bad there.'
After this year's London marathon, a runner from Sierra Leone, 24-year-old Mami Konneh Lahun, went missing after finishing the race in 20th place.
She failed to turn up at an airport when she was due to fly home, but police later found her safe and well.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness, that affects humans as well as primates, including monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.
The virus is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.
Once a person becomes infected, the disease can spread through contact with a sufferer's blood, urine, saliva, stools and semen.
Sesay was given the all clear and released from hospital in time to compete in the men's individual time trial at the Games on Thursday.
The father of one, who competed in the Games on his 32nd birthday, finished last in his race.
He had arrived in Glasgow among a team of two dozen competitors and officials the week before the Games and felt unwell last Thursday, the day after he attended the Opening Ceremony.
‘All of us are scared about going back,' he said. 'We have a three-month visa in our passports and if I have the opportunity, I will stay here until it ends.

The Ebola crisis has been blamed for 729 deaths in an outbreak in four west African countries, including Sierra Leone. Here, two medics are seen carrying an Ebola patient in Kailahun, Sierra Leone

‘It is scary over there. My mother is a medical nurse so she may have to treat people.  My wife is also doing work in the medical field.’
At the games today three athletes who have made as many headlines outside the Glasgow 2014 stadiums as they have for their sporting prowess will compete for Commonwealth glory today.
Usain Bolt is appearing in a final of the men's athletics, after leading Jamaica to victory in the qualifying heats at Hampden last night.
The much-anticipated appearance of the world's fastest man has been overshadowed by controversial comments attributed to him in The Times newspaper, in which he reportedly said the games were 'a bit s***' and he was 'not really' having fun in Scotland.
The six-time Olympic champion made his Commonwealth Games debut after he missed the event in Melbourne in 2006 through injury and opted to skip the 2010 Games in Delhi.
Diver Tom Daley will be back in action in the men's 10m final after coming agonisingly close to Commonwealth Games gold in the synchronised event last night after a near-perfect final dive which left Daley and teammate James Denny settling for silver.
And Australia's Sally Pearson booked her place in today's 100m hurdles final after blitzing the heats last night, vindicating her controversial decision to show up late to a Commonwealth Games camp.
The 27-year-old athlete has arrived in Glasgow as the undoubted star of the Australia track and field team and looking to retain the 100 metres hurdles title she won in Delhi four years ago.
High drama on the Glasgow Green hockey pitch yesterday saw England pip New Zealand on penalties to reach today's women's final.
And England are certain to top a table tennis podium today after the husband-and-wife team of Paul and Joanna Drinkhall set up a shot at Liam Pitchford and Tin Tin Ho in the mixed doubles final yesterday.

DM