PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN BY EUROPE TO STOP SPREAD OF EBOLA:
* SCREENING
Airlines that are still serving west Africa are taking the temperature of departing travellers, on the advice of the World Health Organisation. Passengers with a fever are not supposed to travel until their state of health has been verified. But experts say there are loopholes, for example, taking paracetamol could bring down someone's temperature enough for them to travel. Travellers reported to have symptoms in-flight are isolated and then taken away by a medical team on arrival.
Britain is introducing "enhanced screening" for Ebola at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and at the terminal for the Eurostar train to France and Belgium.
The European Union will on October 17 discuss possible measures to reinforce controls on travellers from west African countries affected by Ebola, following similar measures at Washington DC and Ottawa airports.
* TRAVEL ADVICE
Many European countries are advising against travel to the worst affected countries, particularly Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Travellers leaving the affected region are being given leaflets telling them to check their temperature for 21 days, the incubation period for the virus, and to contact a doctor if they have a fever of 38C or above.
Medical personnel have been advised to check the history of patients who contact them with Ebola symptoms - for example, fever, headaches, vomiting - and if in doubt to send them to one of the hospitals designated by each country for treatment of the virus.
These hospitals are equipped with negative pressure isolation rooms, protective material including gloves and overalls, and trained personnel.
In cases of confirmed infection, anybody linked to the patient will be monitored.
* REPATRIATION PLANS
The EU has set up an evacuation plan for international medical workers in the Ebola zone, allowing patients to be flown within 48 hours to European hospitals "that are equipped to deal with the disease". There have only been eight evacuations to Europe of foreign medical staff with Ebola, via military aircraft or a US charter airline. Europe is meanwhile trying to find the resources to build an "air bridge" for evacuations, with Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and Norway all in talks to provide resources.
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