Brussels, 10/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Even though it is deemed “highly unlikely”, the risk of the Ebola epidemic spreading to Europe has pushed the EU to adopt a series of precautionary measures to close the door to the virus. Each EU member state is responsible for how it implements the measures.
Applying the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), European airlines which continue to fly to and from West Africa will test the temperature of passengers before boarding (see EUROPE 11173). In principle, anyone showing signs of a high temperature will not be allowed on the plane until his/her state of health can be checked. However, according to experts, this test is not 100% sure: simply by taking paracetamol it is possible to escape detection. If symptoms become apparent during the flight, the passenger will be isolated and a medical team will be awaiting the arrival of the flight. The United Kingdom announced on Thursday 9 October that it would, in addition, introduce screening at its main airports and stations, similar to the measures announced the previous day by the United States and Canada. The EU will, on 17 October, discuss whether such strengthening of checks, not recommended by the WHO for the moment, should be brought in. Travel to the high-risk areas, in particular Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, is not advised.
Information. Brochures are to be handed out to passengers returning from high-risk areas, urging them to check their temperature for 21 days, the supposed incubation period of the virus and to contact a doctor if their temperature rises to 38 degrees or more. Health staff are to trace those who have been in contact with patients presenting the symptoms of Ebola (high temperature, headache, vomiting) and, if there is any doubt, to send them to one of the reference hospitals designated in each country. These hospitals ought to have negative pressure rooms that allow patient to be isolated, protective materials (one-piece suits, gloves and masks) and trained staff. If contamination is confirmed, those in the patient's circle will be monitored. On Wednesday, the EU pledged to strengthen this information, with GPs in Belgium, for example, complaining that they had not received any instructions.
Repatriation. With the African countries affected lacking in care staff, the European Commission, backed in particular by France, wants to ensure that European medical personnel sent out can, if it proves necessary, be sure of safe medical repatriation. From the outbreak of the epidemic, only eight evacuations of this kind to the EU have been conducted, by military aircraft or a private American company.
The nurse who contracted the virus in Spain, becoming the first contamination in Europe, had been in contact with two missionaries who had been evacuated for treatment to Madrid, where they died. The EU is working to establish the available air capabilities in the hope of setting up a sort of “on-call rota” among the half dozen countries prepared to provide aircraft (Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and, from outside the EU, Norway). (LC)