10/10/2014

Govt Announce Selective Ebola Screening

The government has announced that selective screening for the Ebola virus will be carried out for people arriving in the UK.

The government had previously stated that it had no plans to introduce screening for the disease, saying that the World Health Organisation had not recommended the procedure.

However, Downing Street has now released a statement saying that people arriving from areas affected by Ebola will face "enhanced screening" at Heathrow, Gatwick and Eurostar terminals.

It is understood the screening would involved travellers being asked questions and "potentially given a medical assessment".

Downing Street said the decision had been taken following new advice from the chief medical office.

The announcement has attracted some criticism, with some claiming that it was more about "looking like something was being done", rather than stopping the spread of the disease.

(MH)

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