One temporarily unidentified case of Ebola could wipe out the entire population of a congested island like Malta.

More than 200 doctors (in their immune-suits), nurses, health workers and lab technicians have already died while trying to treat and contain the virus.

What chance have Maltese aid workers, doctors, nurses, hospital patients and their families and people innocently coming into contact with infected people got, given that stark statistic?

The World Health Organisation has warned that, in one group of African countries, there could be 10,000 cases a week by the end of this year.

Malta should immediately declare, loudly and internationally, that it does not have the resources to test, treat or accommodate Ebola sufferers. And then it should announce that it is (sadly, and compassionately) unable to accept ‘refugees’ from any part of Africa while the virus is prevalent.

It could point out that there may be better facilities in other African countries along the Mediterranean coast or possibly even in Italy, France, Greece or Spain.

The UN, the EU and all African and Arab nations should be advised that no air or seaborne arrivals from Africa (regardless of race, colour or creed) will be accepted into Malta – with immediate effect – even if this entails supplying ‘refugee boats’ with additional fuel and water to enable them to continue their voyage to sanctuary elsewhere in the EU.

The above may sound harsh but it is definitely not as harsh as the inbuilt and obvious risk in the alternative.