Ebola Screenings in Britain to Start at Heathrow Airport Tomorrow

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt speaks

Passengers coming to the UK from African countries stricken by Ebola will be monitored on arrival in the UK.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons that people coming from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will be monitored by Public Health England.

Measures will start tomorrow at Heathrow terminal one before being rolled out to Gatwick and Eurostar terminals.

Officials will quiz visitors about their general health and exposure to Ebola, before taking their temperatures and contact details.

Anyone who shows signs of the virus will be taken to hospital. Continue...

Mr Hunt said: "The measures will reach 89% of travellers coming to the region. But no screening process will be able to identify 100% of people coming from affected areas."

He added: "The general risk is low but it is wise to take precautions."

Mr Hunt said that emergency workers in 111 call centres have been trained in how to handle calls from people who may have Ebola.

And he confirmed all ambulances are equipped with protective equipment.

Any Ebola cases will be taken to the Royal Free Hospital in north London, with additional beds available at Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield.

The UK is the second highest donor to the fight against Ebola in West Africa, pledging £125m so far.

Around 750 military personnel have also been sent to help contain the virus.

There are more than 4000 deaths from Ebola and he says there have been 4,033 confirmed deaths from Ebola, and 8,3999 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of it in seven countries. The countries worst affected are Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham asked for more detail on the government's plans including a breakdown of the number of people who will be screened as well as details of a 'worst-case scenario' for a UK outbreak.

Source: Daily Mirror