Public Health England remain alert for disease but don't plan to introduce entry checks
There are no plans to introduce entry screening for Ebola in the UK but Public Health England (PHE) is continuing to work to ensure the country remains alert and prepared for the disease.
The UK contingency plans for Ebola have the basis that there is a low, but nevertheless real, risk of importing a case of the illness from West Africa, but that if a case is identified the UK has well-tested NHS systems for managing unusual infectious diseases.
Dr Paul Cosford, director of health protection at PHE, said: "The risk of travellers and people working in affected countries contracting Ebola remains low, but PHE continues to keep border staff and medical practitioners informed, and request they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited these areas in West Africa.
"As part of contingency preparations, PHE has provided primary care and hospital healthcare workers with the latest information about the outbreak and actions to take in the event of a possible case.
"Advice has also been issued to UK immigration centres, universities and schools, and humanitarian workers travelling out to affected countries, and the general public. PHE will continue to liaise with the Border Agency and Port Health, and other partners, to provide ongoing guidance."
Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at PHE, 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.
"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."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) currently recommends that affected countries should conduct exit screening for individuals with unexplained illness consistent with potential Ebola infection. WHO also recommends that Ebola cases or contacts should not undertake international travel, unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.
However, entry screening in the UK is not recommended by WHO. This would require the UK to screen every returning traveller, as people could return to the UK from an affected country through any port of entry.
Image © Thomas W. Geisbert, Boston University School of Medicine, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.5
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