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Ebola: UK border staff 'unprepared' says union leader Ebola: UK border staff 'unprepared' says union leader
(34 minutes later)
Border, immigration and customs staff feel unprepared to deal with people coming to the UK with possible cases of the Ebola virus, a union leader says.Border, immigration and customs staff feel unprepared to deal with people coming to the UK with possible cases of the Ebola virus, a union leader says.
Immigration Service Union (ISU) general secretary Lucy Moreton said her members needed more information on the threat.Immigration Service Union (ISU) general secretary Lucy Moreton said her members needed more information on the threat.
But the Border Force has insisted staff have been given guidance on how to identify and deal with suspected cases.But the Border Force has insisted staff have been given guidance on how to identify and deal with suspected cases.
Almost 700 people have died in West Africa since the first case of Ebola was detected in February.Almost 700 people have died in West Africa since the first case of Ebola was detected in February.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the UK government was taking the current threat to the country "very seriously".Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the UK government was taking the current threat to the country "very seriously".
Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
'No guidance''No guidance'
Mrs Moreton told BBC News that ISU members were "very concerned".Mrs Moreton told BBC News that ISU members were "very concerned".
"They serve on the front line; they are the first point of contact usually for people coming off an aircraft and the concern is what do they do if they're confronted with someone that doesn't appear well who appears at the border," she said."They serve on the front line; they are the first point of contact usually for people coming off an aircraft and the concern is what do they do if they're confronted with someone that doesn't appear well who appears at the border," she said.
"There is no health facility at the border, there is no containment facility, and until extremely recently there has been no guidance issued to staff at all as to what they should do," she said on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight."There is no health facility at the border, there is no containment facility, and until extremely recently there has been no guidance issued to staff at all as to what they should do," she said on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight.
"They are phoning us up and asking, 'what are we supposed to do, how do we spot this, how do we protect ourselves?', and we can't answer that for them just now.""They are phoning us up and asking, 'what are we supposed to do, how do we spot this, how do we protect ourselves?', and we can't answer that for them just now."
A Border Force spokesperson said its priority remained the security of the border, which included helping protect public health.A Border Force spokesperson said its priority remained the security of the border, which included helping protect public health.
"We have well-established procedures for dealing with infectious diseases," the spokesperson said."We have well-established procedures for dealing with infectious diseases," the spokesperson said.
"We are currently working closely with partners such as Public Health England to minimise any potential risk and Border Force officers have already been given guidance on how to identify and safely deal with suspected cases of Ebola.""We are currently working closely with partners such as Public Health England to minimise any potential risk and Border Force officers have already been given guidance on how to identify and safely deal with suspected cases of Ebola."
It is understood staff have been advised that if they identify someone as potentially infected, they must refer them to a specialist medical care provider - by ambulance if necessary.
The guidance also includes instructions to report the case to Public Health England.
Mr Hammond said the UK's health services had the experience to deal with the threat posed by the deadly virus.Mr Hammond said the UK's health services had the experience to deal with the threat posed by the deadly virus.
Negative testNegative test
He said the threat to Britain came from someone contracting the disease abroad and becoming unwell back in the UK, but the disease had not yet "directly" affected the UK.He said the threat to Britain came from someone contracting the disease abroad and becoming unwell back in the UK, but the disease had not yet "directly" affected the UK.
Elsewhere, Dr Nick Beeching, senior lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told the BBC people were not going to catch the virus simply by being on a plane with an infected person.Elsewhere, Dr Nick Beeching, senior lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told the BBC people were not going to catch the virus simply by being on a plane with an infected person.
"This is acquired by close contact with body fluids of people that are infected," he said."This is acquired by close contact with body fluids of people that are infected," he said.
"It's not spread through the air, like let's say flu or SARS, so it's a very different kind of transmission from those infections.""It's not spread through the air, like let's say flu or SARS, so it's a very different kind of transmission from those infections."
Several West African airlines have now stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone amid concerns about the spread of the disease to those countries from Guinea. Several West African airlines have stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone amid concerns about the spread of the disease to those countries from Guinea.
The move comes after an infected American man of Liberian descent was found to have flown from Liberia to Nigeria last week. He developed symptoms during the flight. And Ethiopia and Kenya are to screen all passengers arriving from West Africa.
All schools in Liberia have been shut down to try to stem the outbreak - the world's deadliest to date - and some communities have been placed into quarantine. Sierra Leone's president has declared a public health emergency. It comes after an infected American man of Liberian descent was found to have flown from Liberia to Nigeria last week. He developed symptoms during the flight.
Schools have been shut and communities quarantined in Liberia in a bid to stem the outbreak - the world's deadliest to date. A public health emergency has been declared in Sierra Leone.
Earlier this month Public Health England issued an alert to UK doctors to be aware of Ebola symptoms.Earlier this month Public Health England issued an alert to UK doctors to be aware of Ebola symptoms.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Do you work in immigration and customs? How prepared is the UK? Do you have family in West Africa who are affected by the outbreak? You can send your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Ebola UK' in the subject line.Do you work in immigration and customs? How prepared is the UK? Do you have family in West Africa who are affected by the outbreak? You can send your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Ebola UK' in the subject line.