Canada’s health minister told the House of Commons that there will be stepped up screenings at borders to try to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the country. Rona Ambrose said the government would require targeted temperature screens but gave no further details.
Travellers to be questioned
A subsequent statement from the Public Health Agency noted that under the Quarantine Act, travellers coming to Canada must inform officials if they are feeling unwell or have been in contact with a sick person. Border agency officers will be reminded by their computer screens to ask questions about this. If a traveller declares illness or contact with an ill person, their temperature will be taken and they will be referred to a quarantine officer for a full assessment.
The officers will be stationed at six airports across Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa and Calgary. Where there are no quarantine officers, the Public Health Agency says border guards can connect via technology with one around the clock.
The agency’s statement noted there are no direct flights to Canada from the West African countries affected by Ebola.
Temperature screenings appear ineffective
Studies indicate that temperature screening at airports, especially of incoming passengers, is not a particularly useful tool. It was found to have been ineffective during the SARS outbreak in 2003, and during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.
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