UK health security vitally important

The Ebola crisis is a stark warning about the ever-present need for health security in this country, said MEP Paul Nuttall today (13 October).

"Our borders are frighteningly lax and it's not just illegal immigrants coming in that cause major problems, but transmittable diseases.

"I fear it may only be a matter of time before there are Ebola cases in the UK and it is absolutely vital that there are stringent safeguards in place, not just questionnaires, to try to prevent it getting into our communities unchecked.

"But I also believe that we face problems caused by migrants with HIV and tuberculosis and they should be barred from long term stay.

"There are around 60 countries that currently bar people who are HIV-positive from entry, according to the United Nations, and we should follow suit" said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader.

"The cost of treating someone with HIV in the UK is estimated at around £18,000 per year, although this does vary depending on the type and number of drugs taken and the stage of the infection.

"Although we have sympathy for those with HIV/AIDS, people from abroad with life-threatening long term illnesses place an unacceptable burden on the taxpayer funded NHS and we all know the pressure it is under.

"We should introduce systems similar to those in Australia and Canada where long term admission is basically barred if migrants health conditions are considered a danger to public health or safety or would cause excessive demand on the health care system.

"Those are sensible measures. We are an overcrowded island and have a duty to protect those who live here," he added.