Ebola!

[Just-Jude]

Passengers arriving at Heathrow are being checked for the virus by G4S staff...yep, the same cowboys who got the security contract for the 2012 Olympics!

Expect an epidemic in London soon!

[janbee]

Oh Jude, you old cynic you ! I agree with you though ! xx

[Henrietta]

Just jude what's even more frightening is that I saw on the news that it's OPTIONAL for you to be checked out when you fly in! A man from Liberia couldn't believe it that people from an infectious zone weren't forced to undergo rigid testing!

It's been said before that they should stop people flying out from the infected zone until it's contained as if it's allowed to spread this could be the worst global disaster since smallpox and the black death!

I'm frightened to go out now but like everyone else still have to.

[Just-Jude]

I'm really frightened as well. I've started wearing a facemask in the street, just like the Japanese. I get some strange looks, but it's better to look stupid than die from this epidemic.

[Sqad]

\\\\ I get some strange looks,\\\

No wonder......Ebola transmission is not airborne.

[douglas9401]

Ahem. It is if it arrives via Heathrow.

[Sqad]

douglas......LOL......I walked straight into that...didn't I ?

[douglas9401]

:-)

[lilacben]

This whole thing needs narrowing down and people in west africa need to stay there.. What is the point of checking only some people? The virus takes three weeks before it come out.? Just hope they find a cure and how to control it.

[237SJ]

Most of the security at Heathrow is supplied by G4S so it`s not a surprise that they are performing the checks. You don`t have to be a brain surgeon to take someone`s temperature and follow the guidelines.

[douglas9401]

But you do have to be motivated, not on minimum wage and given backup when it kicks off in arrivals, 237SJ.
The British cringe against confrontation, especially with a vocal foreigner, will be our downfall.

[237SJ]

That goes for security as well though Douglas. G4S do the screening and x raying of passengers and bags at security. They also do the screening of hold baggage (along with some of the airline staff) They do a pretty good job so there is no reason to think that they will do a lousy job of screening for ebola.

[agchristie]

Let's hope G4S aren't expecting any medals!

[maggiebee]

My first kneejerk reaction was - don't let people from East Africa travel by air - anywhere. Then I watched the news about British nationals working in Africa in eg the oil industry and I started to waver.

[237SJ]

Don`t you mean West Africa?

[maggiebee]

Sorry, geography's not my strong point!

[237SJ]

No worries maggiebee. I expect some travellers from W Africa will travel to other parts of the continent and Europe to get connecting fligthts to the Uk and beyond so it`s difficult to know where people have come from without screening.

[janbee]

Good to know we're in safe hands then. Phew!

[lady-janine]

G4S? now we have nothing to worry about. all will probably be a disaster.

[Booldawg]

Any West African found to be clear of Ebola will automatically given a job with G4S.

[TonyV]

May seem extreme but non movement of people outside borders is only real method of control. If people really want to travel have a quarantine period (at travellers cost) prior to dparture