http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ra-Leone-that-has-direct-link-to-Britain.html
As a last line of defence in stopping the spread of the deadly Ebola virus to Britain, Lungi International Airport in Sierra Leone would not be an obvious first choice. Sitting on the far side of an estuary from the capital, Freetown, the tiny airport terminal is accessed via a collection of ageing ferries and taxi-boats - none of which, as the Foreign office travel guide points out, is ?without risk?.
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Today, though, as the only airport that operates flights from Africa?s Ebola-affected region directly to London, Britain is relying on its teams of security officials to screen passengers for the disease as they board the four-times weekly flight to Heathrow.
At the airport on Thursday, visitors to the airport were required to wash their hands in chlorinated water before they embarked on the estuary crossing, and then again when they entered the airport terminal itself, which is only open to people with airline tickets.
A masked official with an infra-red temperature gun - which requires no bodily contact - then assessed passengers for any sign of fevers, with anyone with a temperature above 101.6F (38.7C) banned from travelling.
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?If the disease does continue to spread through west Africa, there will probably be sporadic cases arriving at Heathrow via direct flights,? said Dr Derek Gatherer, a specialist in the evolution of viruses at Lancaster University.
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However, on arriving at Heathrow, passengers said they did not undergo additional checks or receive additional advice on what to do if they fell ill. Border officials have already complained that they have not been adequately prepared in what to in case they encounter infected people.
big snip
As a last line of defence in stopping the spread of the deadly Ebola virus to Britain, Lungi International Airport in Sierra Leone would not be an obvious first choice. Sitting on the far side of an estuary from the capital, Freetown, the tiny airport terminal is accessed via a collection of ageing ferries and taxi-boats - none of which, as the Foreign office travel guide points out, is ?without risk?.
snip
Today, though, as the only airport that operates flights from Africa?s Ebola-affected region directly to London, Britain is relying on its teams of security officials to screen passengers for the disease as they board the four-times weekly flight to Heathrow.
At the airport on Thursday, visitors to the airport were required to wash their hands in chlorinated water before they embarked on the estuary crossing, and then again when they entered the airport terminal itself, which is only open to people with airline tickets.
A masked official with an infra-red temperature gun - which requires no bodily contact - then assessed passengers for any sign of fevers, with anyone with a temperature above 101.6F (38.7C) banned from travelling.
snip
?If the disease does continue to spread through west Africa, there will probably be sporadic cases arriving at Heathrow via direct flights,? said Dr Derek Gatherer, a specialist in the evolution of viruses at Lancaster University.
big snip
However, on arriving at Heathrow, passengers said they did not undergo additional checks or receive additional advice on what to do if they fell ill. Border officials have already complained that they have not been adequately prepared in what to in case they encounter infected people.
big snip