Graphic scenes of dead bodies lying strewn by the side of the road and medical workers wearing biohazard protective suits have dominated the headlines as the Ebola virus sweeps through West Africa.

And now Britain is preparing itself for an outbreak of the virus - which attacks the internal organs - amidst fears it may have already reached our shores. Last week, a British man reportedly died of Ebola. Authorities believe businessman Colin Jeffrey, 58, may have travelled from the UK carrying the virus, but the cause of his death is yet to be confirmed.

THE BRITISH MAN WHO HAS BEATEN EBOLA: WILLIAM POOLEY BACK TO HEALTH AFTER TREATMENT IN LONDON

UK hospitals are on high alert for people with symptoms, which include headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and internal bleeding.

Unicef aid worker Sarah Crowe, 55, has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact Ebola has had in the West African country of Liberia, and says more needs to be done to prevent the virus from spreading.

Sarah - who spent five weeks in Liberia's capital Monrovia, dubbed the "epicentre of the disease" - says: "The scenes I witnessed in Liberia were heartbreaking. Infected people are just left lying outside health centres and on the roadside - people are too afraid to help.

"Human compassion is being replaced by fear of becoming infected and everyone's under suspicion of having Ebola. We aren't seeing the response we need to tackle Ebola at the source in Africa and now it's spreading like wildfire.

HEALTH EXPERTS WARN BRITISH DOCTORS TO WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF EBOLA VIRUS

"It's horrendous but it is possible to operate on the ground with the right precautions. People in West Africa are in desperate need of medical professionals, supplies and funds. To stop Ebola spreading further support must urgently go to efforts on the ground- more Ebola treatment units, care centres and help for children. There is not a minute to waste."

For more info or to donate, visit www.unicef.org.uk

Read the full report in this week's Closer Magazine, out now.