LONGLEAT’S Brigadier Stephen McMahon MBE has been recognised for his fight against Ebola in West Africa after being presented with a newly commissioned medal at 10 Downing Street.

A total of 3,000 people will receive the new medal, which include members of the armed forces, NHS doctors and nurses, laboratory specialists, civil servants and non-governmental organisations who helped in the fight against Ebola.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: “This medal is about paying tribute to the hard work of thousands of British heroes up and down the country who travelled to West Africa and put themselves at considerable personal risk.

“From setting up Emergency Treatment Centres and rapid diagnostics labs, through to providing vital safety equipment training, ensuring burials happened safely and safeguarding orphans, we owe them all a debt of gratitude.

“The Ebola outbreak was one of the most devastating epidemics of our generation, but as a result of their efforts many lives were saved and the outbreak contained.

“When the world faced this crisis Britain and brave British medical staff, military personnel, aid workers and volunteers stepped up to the plate.”

Brigadier McMahon, from the late Royal Logistic Corps, led a military deployment to support Sierra Leone’s government in bringing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease under control.

He oversaw the construction of six 100 bed hospitals and training of almost 5,000 healthcare workers, while the UK government committed £427million to battle the disease.

Brigadier McMahon was presented with his medal on Tuesday by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.