Israel PM orders Ebola screening at border crossings

Jerusalem, Oct 13: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Ebola virus outbreak as a major threat to the country's borders and has ordered screenings at all crossings.

"As part of the effort to defend its borders, Israel is preparing to stop, as much as possible, the entry of Ebola patients," Xinhua quoted Netanyahu as saying at a meeting Sunday.

Netanyahu instructed customs and border protection personnel to question all travellers arriving in Israel who have been in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

In addition, informational signs about Ebola in Hebrew, English, French and Arabic have been placed at border crossings, the prime minister's Office said in a statement.

The new entry screening will apply to all airports, land crossings and seaports, the statement said.

So far, only one individual suspected of having been infected with Ebola has entered Israel.

A 28-year-old Nigerian health worker was admitted in a Jerusalem hospital last week for fever and placed in isolation while being tested for possible Ebola.

The results are yet to be verified.

IANS