Major UK airports bring in new rules for travellers | World | News

Major UK airports have put rules in place for passengers urging them to take immediate action if they are suffering from medical symptoms. The new Ebola virus posters at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports, as well as Birmingham and St Pancras railway stations, have been produced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The UKHSA says that up to June 2 a total of 363 cases and 62 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while in Uganda 15 cases and one death have been confirmed.

They are aimed at people travelling from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the Telegraph reports have both confirmed cases of the specific Bundibounya variant of Ebola.

People travelling through airports or railway stations are being urged to alert NHS 111 immediately if they develop symptoms including a high temperature, extreme tiredness, blood in their faeces, bruises over their body, or yelling of the skin and eyes.

The virus can develop between two and 21 days after a person is infected.

There are only a handful of hospitals across the UK that are set up to deal with the virus and have high level isolation units designed to contain dangerous diseases.

These sites include the Royal Free in North London, and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

The Foreign Office says announcements will also be made on direct flights from the affected countries, asking anyone with symptoms to speak to cabin crew.

During the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak temperature checks were put in place at airports, but it is understood that these measures will not be implemented on this occasion.

The Bundibugyo virus is categorised as a World Health Organisation (WHO) risk group four pathogen, while the Australia Group lists it as a biological agent for export control.

It was classified in 2008 and the WHO says fatality rates in the last two outbreaks have ranged from 30% to 50%.