Britain has activated its emergency Ebola screening protocols at major ports and airports following France’s confirmation of its first case of the virus. The move, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care late on Monday, signals a significant escalation in the UK’s preparedness as the outbreak that has ravaged West Africa reaches continental Europe. France reported the case earlier in the day, identifying the patient as a French national who had recently returned from Guinea.
The individual is now receiving treatment in a specialised isolation unit in Paris. British health officials have not disclosed specific locations or criteria for the screenings but confirmed that enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving from affected regions would begin immediately. The World Health Organisation has praised France’s swift response but warned that further travel-related cases in Europe are likely.
The UK’s screening protocols, developed in 2014 during the previous Ebola outbreak, include temperature checks and health questionnaires for travellers from high-risk areas. Downing Street stressed that the risk to the British public remains low, but the move underscores the government’s commitment to containment. Critics have questioned the timing, noting that the NHS has faced recent budget constraints.
Nonetheless, the government’s focus remains on steming the virus’s spread while maintaining public confidence.
