Ebola preparedness at Canada border

Land borders into Canada are also a point of concern. Every week, thousands of travelers enter the country at the Niagara border alone. With the Ebola virus identified in a nurse in Cleveland — just five hours away by car — people are asking if border guards need to be more vigilant.

Tom and Marjorie are visiting Niagara Falls from Ohio. They live not too far from where the second nurse diagnosed with Ebola has family.

When they crossed the bridge, were they asked any Ebola related questions?: “No one asked us at the bridge. (Did you expect to be asked?) No not then. The U.S. may ask us when we go back.”

Canada Border Services says it regularly assesses travellers and that border guards are designated as screening officers and are well trained in the event travellers show signs of illness.

But the onus is really on the traveller. Under the quarantine act, the traveller is required to tell a border guard if they have symptoms of a communicable disease.”

Doctor Valerie Jaeger is Niagara’s Medical Officer of Health. She says the risk of Ebola to Ontario is extremely low. But given the public’s heightened awareness, they’re looking at their infectious disease protocols: “I think we re-examine constantly. Has it been brought to the top of mind for us. Yes. We in Niagara are actually looking at our protocols.”

Doctors, nurses, paramedics are the frontline of defence against Ebola.

Kevin Smith, Niagara EMS: “I think what this does now is bring to light a review to make sure with this particular virus we do have the proper equipment.”

Kevin Smith says paramedics do have the proper equipment but protocols are always under review: “As the days and weeks go by we will be look at exercises and working together to see if there’s anything we need to look at.”

Now the Canada/U.S. border was dragged into a congressional debate Thursday. One congresswoman asked if the border should be better secure? But no one responded — demonstrating how politically charged Ebola has become.