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Ebola: National exercise to test UK's plans for virus Ebola: National exercise to test UK's plans for virus
(about 2 hours later)
A national exercise will be held later to test how the UK would deal with a potential outbreak of the Ebola virus.A national exercise will be held later to test how the UK would deal with a potential outbreak of the Ebola virus.
The eight-hour exercise will see actors in various parts of the UK simulate symptoms of the virus to test the responses of emergency services, government ministers and health chiefs.The eight-hour exercise will see actors in various parts of the UK simulate symptoms of the virus to test the responses of emergency services, government ministers and health chiefs.
It forms part of the UK's contingency plan against Ebola, which has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide.It forms part of the UK's contingency plan against Ebola, which has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide.
Passenger screening is to be introduced at key UK airports and rail terminals.Passenger screening is to be introduced at key UK airports and rail terminals.
The national exercise, ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron, will also include a simulated meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, to be chaired by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.The national exercise, ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron, will also include a simulated meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, to be chaired by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Actors will simulate symptoms of the deadly virus in various areas of the UK, while some hospital staff will wear personal protective equipment. Some hospital staff will wear personal protective equipment during the exercise.
The Department of Health spokesman said officials had been planning the response to an Ebola case in the UK for "many months". A Department of Health spokesman said officials had been planning the response to an Ebola case in the UK for "many months".
"It is vital that we test these plans in as realistic a situation as possible - with real people," the spokesman said."It is vital that we test these plans in as realistic a situation as possible - with real people," the spokesman said.
Figures from the World Health Organization show there have been 4,024 confirmed or suspected deaths in the worst-affected West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone during the current outbreak. Figures from the World Health Organization show there have been 4,024 confirmed or suspected Ebola deaths in the worst-affected West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone during the current outbreak.
In total, there have been 8,399 confirmed or suspected cases, mostly in West Africa.In total, there have been 8,399 confirmed or suspected cases, mostly in West Africa.
Screening processesScreening processes
The government this week said people arriving from areas hit by Ebola would face "enhanced screening" at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as at Eurostar terminals.The government this week said people arriving from areas hit by Ebola would face "enhanced screening" at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as at Eurostar terminals.
Ministers initially said there were no plans to screen people arriving from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Similar measures are being taken in the US, with screening under way at New York's JFK airport and checks at some other airports due to start in the coming days.
However, a Downing Street spokesman said the decision to introduce screening for Ebola had been based on advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies. UK ministers initially said there were no plans to screen people arriving from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
However, a Downing Street spokesman said the decision to introduce Ebola screening had been based on advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies.
Ebola symptoms: What to do in the UKEbola symptoms: What to do in the UK
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding - but these are similar to more common infections like flu and some stomach bugs.Symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding - but these are similar to more common infections like flu and some stomach bugs.
If you have these symptoms and have had contact with an Ebola patient, ring 111 first. Do not go directly to A&E or a GP.If you have these symptoms and have had contact with an Ebola patient, ring 111 first. Do not go directly to A&E or a GP.
If there has been no contact with Ebola, seek help from 111, your GP or A&E if necessary.If there has been no contact with Ebola, seek help from 111, your GP or A&E if necessary.
The chances of developing Ebola in the UK are low.The chances of developing Ebola in the UK are low.
'Waste of time' Risk 'very low'
Passengers will be asked questions and potentially given a medical assessment during the screening process, Downing Street said.Passengers will be asked questions and potentially given a medical assessment during the screening process, Downing Street said.
The Department of Health said further details about how passengers will be checked will be announced next week before the measures come into effect.The Department of Health said further details about how passengers will be checked will be announced next week before the measures come into effect.
In a statement it said "government departments, health protection agencies and the transport sector are continuing to work closely together to minimise the risk" of the virus.In a statement it said "government departments, health protection agencies and the transport sector are continuing to work closely together to minimise the risk" of the virus.
"It is important to stress that given the nature of this disease, no system could offer 100% protection from non-symptomatic cases but the overall risk to the public in the UK remains very low," the statement said."It is important to stress that given the nature of this disease, no system could offer 100% protection from non-symptomatic cases but the overall risk to the public in the UK remains very low," the statement said.
Mr Cameron said it was right to take action "to keep our own people safe" from the Ebola virus. Mr Cameron said it was right to take action "to keep our own people safe" from Ebola.
"Quite rightly, we're taking all the steps we can to keep our own people safe here in the UK.
"What we do is we listen to the medical advice and we act on that advice and that's why we're introducing the screening processes at the appropriate ports and airports," he said."What we do is we listen to the medical advice and we act on that advice and that's why we're introducing the screening processes at the appropriate ports and airports," he said.
Mr Cameron said the government was focussed on taking action "right across the board to deal with this problem at source".Mr Cameron said the government was focussed on taking action "right across the board to deal with this problem at source".
"We're making a bigger contribution than almost any other country, in West Africa, to help deal with the crisis at its source," he said."We're making a bigger contribution than almost any other country, in West Africa, to help deal with the crisis at its source," he said.
However, David Mabey, professor of communicable diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the screening was a "complete waste of time".
'Delays and disruption''Delays and disruption'
However, David Mabey, professor of communicable diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the screening was a "complete waste of time".
There are currently no direct flights to the UK from the affected areas, but people can fly via Paris or Brussels.There are currently no direct flights to the UK from the affected areas, but people can fly via Paris or Brussels.
"Are they going to screen everyone from Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam? That would lead to a lot of delays and disruption," he said."Are they going to screen everyone from Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam? That would lead to a lot of delays and disruption," he said.
More than 750 military personnel and the medical ship the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus are being sent to West Africa to help in efforts to contain the outbreak.More than 750 military personnel and the medical ship the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus are being sent to West Africa to help in efforts to contain the outbreak.
RFA Argus, which has a fully-equipped hospital including critical care and high-dependency units, arrived in Falmouth, Cornwall, earlier for loading before it sails to Sierra Leone next week.RFA Argus, which has a fully-equipped hospital including critical care and high-dependency units, arrived in Falmouth, Cornwall, earlier for loading before it sails to Sierra Leone next week.
It will travel with three Merlin helicopters, aircrew and engineers to provide transport and support to medical teams and aid workers.It will travel with three Merlin helicopters, aircrew and engineers to provide transport and support to medical teams and aid workers.
Personnel from the Army's 22 Field Hospital have been training in York and are expected to be sent to west Africa in the coming weeks to run a 12-bed facility specifically to treat medics who have caught Ebola.