LONDON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Britain announced plans to screen air and rail passengers as they enter the country from areas affected by the Ebola virus.
"Enhanced screening will initially be implemented at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Eurostar (linking Britain to continental Europe by train) terminals," a statement from Prime Minister David Cameron's office said.
It added monitoring of arrivals from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- the three countries most severely affected by the virus -- has already been implemented, including screening before they depart those countries, but additional safeguards would be taken. They include assessments of passengers recent travel history and possible medical assessments at the travelers' point of entry to Britain.
The announcement of additional screening Thursday comes after Ebola virus cases have been identified in Spain and the United States, and after the United States began screening procedures at five major airports regarded as gateways to and from Africa and Europe. Britain earlier downplayed suggestions regarding extra screening at British ports of entry.
David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine professor, is among those who believe screening procedures could not stop the Ebola virus from entering Britain, referring to them as a "complete waste of time."
"Firstly, there won't be anyone coming from these (West African) countries because all direct flights have been cancelled. Are they going to screen everyone from Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam? That would lead to a lot of delays and disruption. Secondly, why would anyone admit that they have been in contact with someone when they're in a hurry to get through immigration control when they arrive at the airport? People will have been screened before getting on flights and may seem to be healthy if they're not yet showing symptoms. And then what will they do if they think they do have Ebola? Lock them up in solitary confinement?"
The Ebola virus has infected over 8,000 people and killed nearly 4,000 people, the World Health Organization reports, in an outbreak concentrated in West Africa. It is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person or animal.
