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.

Interesting Guardian article, thanks OP.
I can understand how the sensational headlines are scaring people, just like Bird Flu, Swine Flu, SARS and the like have done in the past but some perspective and understanding is needed here. I was worried too initially but some reading about the virus and how it is spread helped put things in context.

I know that I am being extremely hysterical so please forgive me but golly it's frightening.

Moon I was actually watching the 10pm news and they were discussing Ebola and the case in America so I guess I wasn't thinking rationally.

Now, the title AIBU to be freaked out by the idea of viruses which could wipe out humankind? I would have been right behind you OP. I live on an island and am prepared for a zombie Apocalypse disaster.

Don't worry about Ebola leaping from any old place in Africa.

"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."

And if the person's been infected in the meantime? ELISA testing can easily take a couple of weeks (can be rushed in an emergency, but testing everyone flying out of an entire continent isn't rushable). Or are you also suggesting that everyone intending to fly into the UK should be locked up in isolation for two weeks first, and if so where?

Are you extending this rule to everyone flying from North America now that they have Ebola there, by the way? Given that you want to test people who've never been within three thousand miles of an infected area it seems a bit remiss to let the Texans in particular off scot-free.

MrsTerryPratchet Now that would make a much more interesting thread title.

I unfortunately get caught up in the sensationalising of Ebola when watching the news or reading the news papers.

OP, have you any idea what you're actually suggesting?

If you are worried about ebola, read up on it, and also get a decent map so that you can understand the geographical position of the countries involved.

Imagine a grass virus that effects the very few strains of grain plants we use; wheat; rice; barley. Instant starvation (except for potato/tuber eating islands). Aaaaarrrrggghhh. Ebola is wimpy in comparison to things that could happen.

I was in China earlier this year and they have stations set up in all airports and many train stations where someone can monitor the temperature of all the people walking past. I was quite glad I didn't get sick there and test that scary system...

It just isn't feasible.
You'd have to test, quarantine and retest everyone before they left continental Africa. That would include via a land border.

yabu but mainly because africa is HUGE and the affected area is relatively small (and poor so only relatively wealthy and educated people are able to fly out).

risk is still pretty small, even if you were in the same flight as an infected person.

I'm (and many experts are) more concerned about mers.

Ah, that explains it a bit better.

MrsTP, you should read The Death of Grass by John Christopher, it's about exactly that.

Stratter I will. While I dig my bunker and stock my cellar. I love scary apocalypse books. There was a great one about the plague in NY.

Anyone from anywhere in Africa, even if it is further away from the Ebola affected countries than Britain is?
You're right, you aren't thinking rationally!

Not another westerner making a disease thats killing poor africans, and only poor africans, all about them?
What the fuck is wrong with you people? YOU ARE NOT AT RISK FROM EBOLA. YOU ARE BEING NOT ONLY RIDICULOUS BUT ALSO BORDERLINE RACIST.
Get a grip of yourself. It's not frightening at all if you bothered to learn the first thing about it before spouting such rubbish.

Also, ELISA tests for ebola are only of use when symptomatic and take about 3 days. So how are you going to test all the Africans then?

Others have said it but seeing as it's a pet peeve of mine - Africa isn't a country. Africa is huge - don't look at maps for a sense of scale, it's bigger than it looks. There are people in Europe far closer to the outbreak than people in Africa. Ebola (at least at present) isn't airbourne - look up how it is spread!

I'd happily jump on a plane and go to "Africa" for a holiday tomorrow.

Just for you Salty.

Get off your soapbox grockle - being worried about a hideous disease doesn't make somebody "borderline racist" - you should think more carefully before throwing such terms about. At best, it's unfair - the OP was only expressing fears that many people have. At worst, well, it's slander.

MrsTP, I'm coming to you when the Apocalypse happens, I'll bring my extensive doom ladened library with me

its not slander you dope, its aibu.

And being worried is daft, but not racist. Arguing that we should forcibly test anyone coming in from Africa is not "being worried".

I think I will stand on my soapbox until these "OMG we're all going to die of ebola" threads stop.

Its cultural appropriation at its worst. It's taking the abject suffering of people dying in poverty and making it into a ridiculous all-about-me western wank-fest. You aren't at risk of catching ebola. If you did, you have all the facilities available to live anyway.
It's sick, wallowing in fake fear.

salty the mercator projection was used because a line on that map was the same as the bearing, so really the only useful projection for navigation, which is, of course, the point of maps.
The Peter projection is useful for relative size
this site is excellent as it remaps the world based on things such as wealth

not seen that before MrsTerryPratchett

I'm with grockle on this one.

I should add I've seen the Peters map before - just never seen the West Wing. I work in a tourism related field and travel a lot. It really does annoy me when people refer to Africa as if it was a large country instead of a huge continent of numerous countries.

YOU ARE BEING NOT ONLY RIDICULOUS BUT ALSO BORDERLINE RACIST.
And being worried is daft, but not racist.
Make your mind up grockle.