While the Ebola epidemic is still not under control in Africa, France is working to prevent a possible arrival of the virus. After an interview with the American Presidents, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Head of Government David Cameron, Head of State François Hollande announced that the establishment of “a system of controls to the arrival of flights from the area affected by the virus “, in his words repeated by AFP.
The announcement will take a concrete turn very quickly since the controls of passengers on Air France flights from Conakry in Guinea will begin on Saturday morning. These temperature checks will be carried out by the medical team at Roissy airport with the support of the Red Cross and Civil Protection, said Minister of Health Marisol Touraine.
Also on the agenda, a strengthening of controls at the departure of flights to Conakry. “The first precaution to take is to make sure that someone who has a fever does not get on the plane”, explains the minister.
In order to identify people who could be in contact with an Ebola patient, aircraft passengers will now complete a “traceability questionnaire”.
International solidarity
Health Minister Marisol Touraine recalls that there is no case of Ebola transmission in France. However, the progression of the epidemic which has reached more than 4,400 deaths (mainly in West Africa) justifies international mobilization. The American, British, German and French leaders gathered in a video conference call together the virus as thea “more serious health emergency in recent years. ”They call on the international community to“ do much more and more quickly to halt the spread of the disease in the region ”.
The calls come as the United States expects new cases of Ebola on its soil, after the discovery of a second contaminated caregiver in a Texan hospital.
Do you think that these airport checks can protect against the Ebola threat? React on the forum.
