Helderflower
Active member
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-virus-says-home-office-minister-9780993.html
But why? Why can't we just screen those 40 flights for now?
But why? Why can't we just screen those 40 flights for now?
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Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
- Thread starter Helderflower
- Start date
ming
Well-known member
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Isn't it so odd that the powers that be are all so slow on the uptake and so afraid to stand up and do something? More concerned with being laughed at than they are about keeping ebola out..
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Isn't it so odd that the powers that be are all so slow on the uptake and so afraid to stand up and do something? More concerned with being laughed at than they are about keeping ebola out..
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
I think that they consider it a trade off between economic losses (UK airport workers argue that they are not trained to do screeing and if forced to do so would probably strike) vs imported cases. If limited to the case imports then its (in their view) a fair trade off. If however there are secondary cases amongst UK HCWs or citizens, that balance may change.
They still have complete confidence in our healthcare and infrastructure, such that they believe 'ebola will not be a problem here'.
Sorry to be so cynical, but i think that is the reality.
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
I think that they consider it a trade off between economic losses (UK airport workers argue that they are not trained to do screeing and if forced to do so would probably strike) vs imported cases. If limited to the case imports then its (in their view) a fair trade off. If however there are secondary cases amongst UK HCWs or citizens, that balance may change.
They still have complete confidence in our healthcare and infrastructure, such that they believe 'ebola will not be a problem here'.
Sorry to be so cynical, but i think that is the reality.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Travelers from high risk departure points are already temperature screened. Cabin crews and boarder officials have been instructed to look out for and report anyone who appears unwell. There is no test available for infected individuals before symptom onset.
Welcome Helderflower.
Screen them how?
Travelers from high risk departure points are already temperature screened. Cabin crews and boarder officials have been instructed to look out for and report anyone who appears unwell. There is no test available for infected individuals before symptom onset.
Welcome Helderflower.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
It would be plausible to maintain a register of all arrivals from 'hot' zones and require them to phone in with a temperature measurement daily or twice daily. This could be interspersed with a visit to verify every 7 days. Failure to do so could mean isolation (if sick) or immediate deportation.
Immigration already requires that they submit to immigration checks, and I am not sure if they already have to state where they will be staying, but this should not be hard to man or manage, as it would not require much in the way of additional steps at point of entry.
We already have 111 services etc in place, who could manage ongoing temperature reporting. Given the severity of ebola, it would be inexcusable to do nothing.
If spain (e.g madrid only) becomes a hot zone, then they would need to set up such documenting or similar from EU countries/ regions if there are significant outbreaks.
It would be plausible to maintain a register of all arrivals from 'hot' zones and require them to phone in with a temperature measurement daily or twice daily. This could be interspersed with a visit to verify every 7 days. Failure to do so could mean isolation (if sick) or immediate deportation.
Immigration already requires that they submit to immigration checks, and I am not sure if they already have to state where they will be staying, but this should not be hard to man or manage, as it would not require much in the way of additional steps at point of entry.
We already have 111 services etc in place, who could manage ongoing temperature reporting. Given the severity of ebola, it would be inexcusable to do nothing.
If spain (e.g madrid only) becomes a hot zone, then they would need to set up such documenting or similar from EU countries/ regions if there are significant outbreaks.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
If public awareness is kept high then anyone who thinks they are becoming ill should self report anyway. I hope by now everyone knows early treatment is crucial and this is not one best sweated out at home. A free hotline number on a card (in multiple languages with a what to look out for initial symptoms list) given to everyone as they go through passport control might be worth doing.
If public awareness is kept high then anyone who thinks they are becoming ill should self report anyway. I hope by now everyone knows early treatment is crucial and this is not one best sweated out at home. A free hotline number on a card (in multiple languages with a what to look out for initial symptoms list) given to everyone as they go through passport control might be worth doing.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
JJackson - Agreed, but I do not think we should assume knowledge at any point.
There needs to be some education and enforcement.... and temperature monitoring instructions would not be hard to follow, especially if self administered. By re-enforcing the importance of seeking help at the first sign of fever for people from the hot zone, we can also give the message about increased chances of survival and protecting others from the disease.
JJackson - Agreed, but I do not think we should assume knowledge at any point.
There needs to be some education and enforcement.... and temperature monitoring instructions would not be hard to follow, especially if self administered. By re-enforcing the importance of seeking help at the first sign of fever for people from the hot zone, we can also give the message about increased chances of survival and protecting others from the disease.
Gemineye
Well-known member
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
People who believe thay have been infected and have the money to fly to a more developed country before they show symptoms will do so. They are concerned only with themselves, as Duncan and Sawyer have shown.
People who believe thay have been infected and have the money to fly to a more developed country before they show symptoms will do so. They are concerned only with themselves, as Duncan and Sawyer have shown.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Gemineye: if borders are going to remain open, with exit temperature screening, we have to accept that we will get imports of cases who are incubating disease: they may or may not know if they have been exposed at that time, but its a moot point anyway.
The key here is to ensure that any such cases are a) detected early before they have a chance to spread the virus to others and b) that they enter the healthcare system at a point which has been warned in advance that a suspect ebola case is incoming to minimise exposure to our HCWs and health systems.
If all entrants are placed on a 'watch' list and required to monitor temps daily and report these, anyone developing fever can be directed to a specific hospital for isolation and assessment, and those hospitals would receive a prior alert about someone due to come in, so that HCWs can ensure they are properly protected and following protocol from the outset.
Gemineye: if borders are going to remain open, with exit temperature screening, we have to accept that we will get imports of cases who are incubating disease: they may or may not know if they have been exposed at that time, but its a moot point anyway.
The key here is to ensure that any such cases are a) detected early before they have a chance to spread the virus to others and b) that they enter the healthcare system at a point which has been warned in advance that a suspect ebola case is incoming to minimise exposure to our HCWs and health systems.
If all entrants are placed on a 'watch' list and required to monitor temps daily and report these, anyone developing fever can be directed to a specific hospital for isolation and assessment, and those hospitals would receive a prior alert about someone due to come in, so that HCWs can ensure they are properly protected and following protocol from the outset.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Phoning in symptoms/travel history and being moved directly into isolation, until tested, is a major step up from just turning up at the local A&E.
The false alarms will waste some resources but it will save on contact tracing and treatment of secondary cases in the long run.
Phoning in symptoms/travel history and being moved directly into isolation, until tested, is a major step up from just turning up at the local A&E.
The false alarms will waste some resources but it will save on contact tracing and treatment of secondary cases in the long run.
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
In the UK the existing 111 system could be adapted - there is also the experience from pH1N1 and the tamiflu hotlines that can be drawn upon.
If we are considering only arrivals from hot zones, the numbers would be manageable... at least as things currently stand.
In the UK the existing 111 system could be adapted - there is also the experience from pH1N1 and the tamiflu hotlines that can be drawn upon.
If we are considering only arrivals from hot zones, the numbers would be manageable... at least as things currently stand.
Helderflower
Active member
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Hi, thank you. Well, we can only screen the passengers' temperatures on arrival, and observe them. I know this is being done at airports in the affected countries now, but I confess I would like a second check this end. These are my reasons:-
1. There have been some concerns raised about the effectiveness of the handheld remote thermometers, perhaps it's the way they're being used, perhaps training is an issue. BBC News today had filmed a temp readout at 32 degrees with reassuring commentary as the passenger appeared to get the all clear. What does a reading of 32 degrees mean? If the next passenger said 37 would they be good to go? Also I can't remember whether it was CNN or NBC crew recently said the departure screening was chaotic and inconsistently used.
2. I believe from press reports there are no direct flights into the UK from the three mainly affected countries at the moment. It's about 7 hours from, say Accra, Ghana and I don't know how carefully Ghana is screening, if at all. Or Gambia? Anyone know?
3. If a passenger knowingly suppressed their temperature with paracetamol ibuprofen etc in order to get on the plane, perhaps 7 hours is a good interval to get a second opinion?
I'm not suggesting closing the borders, and I'm completely in agreement that the only way to stop this epidemic is sending big help to West Africa right now to try and stop it there.
I just think that screening / monitoring / giving out info cards to 40 flights a week is do-able.
Hi, thank you. Well, we can only screen the passengers' temperatures on arrival, and observe them. I know this is being done at airports in the affected countries now, but I confess I would like a second check this end. These are my reasons:-
1. There have been some concerns raised about the effectiveness of the handheld remote thermometers, perhaps it's the way they're being used, perhaps training is an issue. BBC News today had filmed a temp readout at 32 degrees with reassuring commentary as the passenger appeared to get the all clear. What does a reading of 32 degrees mean? If the next passenger said 37 would they be good to go? Also I can't remember whether it was CNN or NBC crew recently said the departure screening was chaotic and inconsistently used.
2. I believe from press reports there are no direct flights into the UK from the three mainly affected countries at the moment. It's about 7 hours from, say Accra, Ghana and I don't know how carefully Ghana is screening, if at all. Or Gambia? Anyone know?
3. If a passenger knowingly suppressed their temperature with paracetamol ibuprofen etc in order to get on the plane, perhaps 7 hours is a good interval to get a second opinion?
I'm not suggesting closing the borders, and I'm completely in agreement that the only way to stop this epidemic is sending big help to West Africa right now to try and stop it there.
I just think that screening / monitoring / giving out info cards to 40 flights a week is do-able.
Helderflower
Active member
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
I take your point about airport workers, perhaps NHS volunteers or other volunteers? Perhaps there would be many sources of adequately trained people prepared to help (first aiders)?
Re: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
I take your point about airport workers, perhaps NHS volunteers or other volunteers? Perhaps there would be many sources of adequately trained people prepared to help (first aiders)?
Helderflower
Active member
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Yes, but this is understandable, we all have survival instincts. People are unpredictable anyway, and once one becomes symptomatic with Ebola, I'm sure clear & objective thinking goes right out the window.
So extra checks at arrivals sound a reasonable course of action to me.
Yes, but this is understandable, we all have survival instincts. People are unpredictable anyway, and once one becomes symptomatic with Ebola, I'm sure clear & objective thinking goes right out the window.
So extra checks at arrivals sound a reasonable course of action to me.
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
There was a documentary on PBS tonight and a middle-aged man they interviewed said that Ebola affected his mind when he was ill. He looked very upset recollecting it.
There was a documentary on PBS tonight and a middle-aged man they interviewed said that Ebola affected his mind when he was ill. He looked very upset recollecting it.
Helderflower
Active member
Re: Ebola: Britain starts screening at some airports today
Re: Ebola: Britain starts screening at some airports today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29604184
It's being carried out by nurses and consultants.
Signs displayed in arrivals offers Ebola advice and support.
The BBC is reporting the advice as:-
"...If you have these symptoms and had contact with an Ebola patient then ring 111 first, do not go directly to A&E or a GP. If there has been no contact with Ebola then seek help from 111, your GP or A&E if necessary."
Re: Ebola: Britain starts screening at some airports today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29604184
It's being carried out by nurses and consultants.
Signs displayed in arrivals offers Ebola advice and support.
The BBC is reporting the advice as:-
"...If you have these symptoms and had contact with an Ebola patient then ring 111 first, do not go directly to A&E or a GP. If there has been no contact with Ebola then seek help from 111, your GP or A&E if necessary."
stephensons
New member
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Hi everyone,
I live East of London and believe me we wouldn't cope if this develops into something more sinister.
Hi everyone,
I live East of London and believe me we wouldn't cope if this develops into something more sinister.
Helderflower
Active member
Re: Ebola: Britain must start screening for the virus, says Home Office minister
Welcome stephensons. I know, it's alarming.
Hi everyone,
I live East of London and believe me we wouldn't cope if this develops into something more sinister.
Welcome stephensons. I know, it's alarming.