Universities in the UK have been alerted about potential Ebola outbreaks once school resumes this September, as several thousand students prepare to arrive in the UK from Ebola struck Nigeria.
Universities UK, an umbrella body that represents university vice-chancellors, sent guidance to all universities detailing how to deal with a potential outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever. The guidelines stated that any student suspected of having Ebola should immediately be put in isolation away from staff and students, and that staff dealing with patients should take precautions by using gloves and disinfectant.
The isolation room should have “dedicated en-suite facilities or at least a dedicated commode, the level of staff protection is dependent on the patient’s condition,” the guidelines stated. “Evidence from outbreaks strongly indicates that the main routes of transmission of infection are direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membrane) and indirect contact with environments contaminated with splashes or droplets of blood or body fluids,” it added, highlighting the fact that while Ebola is highly contagious it cannot be transmitted by air.
Last year over 9,000 students arrived from Nigeria, where Ebola is a growing concern, to study in the UK. So far, three people have died from the disease in Nigeria while several other cases have been reported.
A spokesperson for Universities UK said: “Universities take the welfare of all their students and staff very seriously. From contact we have had over the past few weeks, we know many are closely monitoring the situation with regard to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and any impact this may have on their institution.
“Universities UK has been, and will remain, in close contact with government officials and public health agencies on this issue to ensure we can advise and support our members. We are also working closely with other organisations to ensure the appropriate advice reaches relevant individuals within student services and university administration.”
