Enhanced Ebola screening process launched in England

New precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola to the UK have been introduced by Public Health England this week.

Enhanced screening measures have initially been rolled out at Heathrow Airport, to be followed by Gatwick and the St Pancras Eurostar terminal, for passengers that Border Force officers identify as having travelled from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Passengers will have their temperature taken and complete a questionnaire asking about their current health, recent travel history and whether they might be at potential risk through contact with Ebola patients.

Based on this information, they will either be given advice and allowed to continue their journey, or undergo a further clinical assessment and be transferred to hospital for further tests if necessary.

Dr Paul Cosford, director for health protection and medical director at Public Health England, said: "Enhanced screening in high volume ports of entry will ensure that individuals at risk know exactly what to do if they start feeling ill, and can receive the expert advice they need immediately."

The current Ebola outbreak is the worst in recorded history, with more than 3,000 fatalities thus far.