The Dorset Echo is backing an appeal by a Dorchester charity shop in response to the worsening Ebola crisis.

The county town’s Oxfam store is raising funds to help up to four million people at risk of contracting the deadly disease in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Owain Lloyd from the store said: “We have very little time left to stop this disease from spreading and devastating many more families. The medical services are overwhelmed by the scale of the Ebola epidemic and if we do not act immediately the crisis will be soon escalate out of control.

“We’re calling on the people of Dorchester to support this appeal by making a donation, or you could help in your local Oxfam shop and help Oxfam raise the £22 million we need to help stem this emergency.”

A total of 8,033 cases and 3,879 deaths have been reported in the current Ebola outbreak according to the World Health Organisation.

The crisis continues to get worse, with numbers increasing since the end of July, overwhelming an already struggling health service. Fears are being allayed in Dorset as the health services say they are prepared in the event of Ebola coming to the UK.

Dorset County Hospital has confirmed to the Echo it is ready and Public Health Dorset is working as part of the national Public Health grid on the issue.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of Global Health at Public Health England, said: “UK hospitals have a proven record of dealing with imported infectious diseases. If an Ebola case is repatriated to, or detected in, the UK they would receive appropriate treatment in an isolation unit, with all appropriate protocols promptly activated.

“Protective measures would be strictly maintained to minimise risk of transmission to healthcare workers treating the individual. It is important to remember that for Ebola to be transmitted from one person to another contact with blood or other body fluids are needed. As such, if England was to see a case of Ebola this will not result in an outbreak here.

“Our robust, well-developed and well-tested NHS systems for managing unusual infectious diseases are all active permanently, and always available and regularly tested and proven to be effective. The overall risk of Ebola to the UK remains low.”

Last Sunday in Sierra Leone there were 121 deaths due to the disease, the worst figures recorded for a single day.

Oxfam is planning to triple its Ebola prevention programme in West Africa and needs at least £22m to help the four million people at risk of catching the disease.

People can donate at the South Street shop as well as online at oxfam.org.uk or by calling 0300 200 1999. Cheques made payable to Oxfam can also be dropped in at the Dorset Echo’s offices in Antelope Walk in Dorchester and at the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth. Anyone wanting to volunteer to support the work of the Dorchester shop can email oxfamshopf4073@oxfam .org.uk or call 01305 263590.