British authorities have begun monitoring vessels heading for the UK that have visited ports in countries where the Ebola virus is present in West Africa. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said such vessel of interest (VOI) will be contacted as it enters UK.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said “If a VOI seeks radio medical advice or requires a search & rescue (SAR) response or a medical evacuation, HM Coastguard will notify SAR units before a response can be undertaken so that they can prepare for and manage the situation more cautiously if required,”
Bristish Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) added that if symptoms of Ebola are thought to be present, the vessel will be asked to divert to the nearest suitable port where the casualty can be taken off the ship by land-based medical services in a controlled manner. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) says the relevant ambulance service and public health agencies will be informed of the situation by the Coastguard.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said “The Coastguard will work with the land emergency services and port authority to ensure that the patient is landed in a measured way,”. Over the weekend paramedics in protective suits took part in a major exercise at key locations around the UK to test Britain’s reaction to a potential outbreak of Ebola.
Actors posing as potentially infected patients were transported on trolleys to test the responses of emergency services and the Government to a disease which has now killed more than 4,000 people worldwide. The exercise followed the introduction of screening of passengers arriving from areas hit by Ebola at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and the Eurostar terminal in a bid to spot anyone displaying symptoms of the disease.