Airline passengers who travelled on the same flights as a health worker who has contracted Ebola, are being traced by authorities in the UK.
The woman was diagnosed as having the disease after arriving in Glasgow on Sunday night. She had flown from Sierra Leone to Heathrow via Casablanca with Royal Air Maroc, and then from Heathrow to Glasgow with British Airways on the same day before becoming sick.
Health authorities said the risk to passengers on these flights of catching Ebola was “extremely low” but they would still be contacting all travellers to offer advice and reassurance.
Heathrow said in a statement: “All possible contacts with the patient are now being investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be contacted and closely monitored. However, having been diagnosed in the very early stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered extremely low.
“While public health experts have emphasised that the risks are negligible, a telephone helpline has been set up for anyone who was on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight on 28 December.”
There were 71 other passengers on BA flight 1478 which departed Heathrow at 21.00 on Sunday (December 28) and arrived in Glasgow at 22.20.
“The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority and the risk to people on board that individual flight is extremely low,” said British Airways in a statement.
The unnamed health worker, who has now been transferred from Scotland to the Royal Free Hospital in London for further specialist care, previously flew from Casablanca to Heathrow on Royal Air Maroc flight AT800, which arrived at Heathrow at 15.50 on Sunday before catching her connecting service to Glasgow.
A helpline has been set up for anybody who travelled on BA 1478 on Sunday. The number is 0800 0858531.