To think that anyone coming to the UK from Africa should be tested for Ebola before they touch down on British soil?

[SuperWifeANDMum]

Just that really.

I really hope the government is doing all they can to prevent this disease coming to the uk.

*are doing

It sounds like a good idea but I've got no idea about the technicalities of it all ...

But I'm quite nervous about it all now. Really horrid stuff in the news. :(

Really???

YABU.
HTH

Yabu they should be tested before they even get on a plane from affected areas

It's shitting me right up tbh

Yeah, if someone comes form Tunisia, Eritrea or South Africa, thousands of miles from anyone with Ebola, they should totally be tested. Africa is not a country BTW.

Just have Britain send out a public service announcement not to touch dead bodies.

Problem solved.

YABU

Why test everyone from Africa when the outbreak is only in certain countries in the west?

And would a test actually identify the pre-symptomatic stage?

And how would anyone be able to check that arrivals from elsewhere had not been in outbreak areas in the previous 21 days?

I recommend this article highly: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/30/ebola-dallas-spreading-across-america

Ebola is scary, but the reason it is scary where it is currently spreading is largely because the healthcare infrastructure is poor. If you're worried about Ebola (and similar diseases), do what you can to support governmental and non-governmental organisation working to improve that infrastructure.

Could you please tell us all about the testing procedure: what medium is gathered? What equipment is necessary? Is it an invasive test? How are the results analysed? How long does this process take? How accurate is it?
I am assuming you have considered all of this before making your educated statement.

I know Africa is not a country it's a continent but right now that's where Ebola is.

The title of this post does state BEFORE they touch down on British soil.

www.msf.ca/en/donate-now Just in case you also care about people in West Africa dying...

Here's the test.

cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z0wRJqqXioNDoTwKhprghxnaJew=/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2314820/doyouhaveebola_revised.0.png

I don't think it's actually possible to do an easy swab test with instant or near instant results for Ebola, otherwise it's a fantastic idea. Also it can be carried for some time (days?) without showing symptoms, and in its earliest infectious form, looks like a touch of 'flu or a nasty cold.

Ebola isn't "in Africa". That's like saying the Himalayas are "in Asia" and then turning up in Thailand and expecting to climb Everest...

This is what the CDC has to say about the tests

It seems the various tests are all used only once symptomatic. And very few places carry them out, because of the risks of handing body fluids potentially containing a very dangerous pathogen (so full containment required).

Any experts know how long the tests CDC use take to carry out?

Well it's in that continent VeryLittle so I think that they should test everyone as a precaution.

Alpaca it doesn't matter how long the test takes if you have an intention of flying into the UK then a test should be performed and only if it comes back clear should the person be given the all clear to fly.

I think it's an excellent and practical plan not at all influenced by ignorance, fear or bigotry. Carry on.

We have really big issues working out how big Africa is mainly because of the way maps are drawn and how we white men oriented the maps and scaled them. Africa is bloody enormous.

If there was an outbreak of the plague in Iran, do you think you should be tested to fly somewhere?

In fact you are closer to Liberia than Cape Town is. Which means you should be tested because you are closer.

Were you feeling a little cold tonight OP?

In all seriousness though, YABU, for all the reasons outlined by MrsTP and a few others.