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Ebola crisis: David Cameron urges EU airport screening | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
David Cameron has urged other European countries to start Ebola screening at airports, saying they "must do more" to stop the deadly disease spreading. | David Cameron has urged other European countries to start Ebola screening at airports, saying they "must do more" to stop the deadly disease spreading. |
Screening of some Heathrow arrivals started this week, with Eurostar and Gatwick set to follow suit next week. | |
France is to check passengers flying to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from Guinea's capital Conakr from Saturday. | |
Meanwhile, the RFA Argus is set to leave for Sierra Leone later with medical teams and aid experts on board. | |
The Royal Navy ship, which has a fully-equipped hospital, is expected to reach the region by the end of the month and will also be carrying 225 military personnel. | The Royal Navy ship, which has a fully-equipped hospital, is expected to reach the region by the end of the month and will also be carrying 225 military personnel. |
The virus has killed about 4,500 people so far, with nearly all of the deaths in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. | |
Mr Cameron made his comments at a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee on Thursday, but said the risk to the UK remained low. | |
Canada and the US have already introduced increased screening of travellers arriving at airports from West Africa. At Heathrow, the measures also target passengers from those countries. | |
No 10 said "screening was up and running across all Heathrow terminals and would be in place at Gatwick and St Pancras during the next week". | |
The prime minister raised concerns about the quality of protection in place in Europe, and said he believed other governments should emulate the UK checks. | |
He is also expected to use a summit in Brussels next week as an opportunity to push for more funding and assistance for West African states struggling to contain outbreaks. | He is also expected to use a summit in Brussels next week as an opportunity to push for more funding and assistance for West African states struggling to contain outbreaks. |
A statement released by Downing Street after the Cobra meeting said: "There was a discussion over the need for the international community to do much more to support the fight against the disease in the region. | A statement released by Downing Street after the Cobra meeting said: "There was a discussion over the need for the international community to do much more to support the fight against the disease in the region. |
"This included greater co-ordination of the international effort, an increase in the amount of spending and more support for international workers who were, or who were considering, working in the region." | "This included greater co-ordination of the international effort, an increase in the amount of spending and more support for international workers who were, or who were considering, working in the region." |
RFA Argus in numbers | |
On Thursday, UK army medics arrived in Sierra Leone to help with battle the virus. | |
A team of 91, including nurses, doctors and infectious disease consultants, have joined 40 soldiers already there to work at a UK-supported treatment centre, which has 12 of its 92 beds set aside for healthcare workers who risk infection while treating others. | |
Meanwhile, on a ministerial visit to the West Midlands, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "I think we will see someone with Ebola arriving in the UK and the chief medical officer thinks it will be a handful of cases in the next three months. | |
"We have to be prepared. We have very strict procedures and we have to make sure everyone knows those procedures." | "We have to be prepared. We have very strict procedures and we have to make sure everyone knows those procedures." |
Footballers monitored | Footballers monitored |
Mr Cameron's criticisms of European neighbours come amid criticism of the US response, after a nurse with Ebola was allowed to board a flight from Ohio to Texas despite telling officials she had a fever. | Mr Cameron's criticisms of European neighbours come amid criticism of the US response, after a nurse with Ebola was allowed to board a flight from Ohio to Texas despite telling officials she had a fever. |
US authorities are currently trying to track down 132 passengers who were on board with Amber Joy Vinson - who was infected along with a colleague after caring for a patient in Texas. | US authorities are currently trying to track down 132 passengers who were on board with Amber Joy Vinson - who was infected along with a colleague after caring for a patient in Texas. |
In sport, Premier League clubs have said their doctors will closely monitor footballers who are returning from the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. | |
Although no players have travelled back to the UK from the worst-affected parts of West Africa, the issue has been considered by club medics. | Although no players have travelled back to the UK from the worst-affected parts of West Africa, the issue has been considered by club medics. |