Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of post-arrival monitoring of travellers whose travel originated from countries affected by the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Symptoms of Ebola can emerge at any time up to 21 days after exposure to the virus and there is therefore a chance that an individual may be well on their return to the United Kingdom, but then subsequently develop symptoms.

As part of the entry screening process all returning travellers, including health care workers, humanitarian care workers and any other returnees from an affected country, who have been involved in any activities involving contact with cases of Ebola, will receive information about Ebola symptoms and what to do in the event of becoming unwell.

The screening programme is a valuable point of reassurance that we have met with returning health and humanitarian care workers, and assessed requirements to monitor and support them. Those with any particular risks will be actively monitored for a 21 day period.