Baggage handlers in Belgium National airport refuse unloading bags from Ebola countries.

Baggage handlers in Belgium National airport refuse unloading bags from Ebola countries. (NOS) (DeTijd).[GoogleTranslate].

Baggage handlers at Brussels Airport Zaventem refuse to unload Luggage from countries where Ebola prevails. They are afraid that they are infected and want that protective measures are taken.

It is the members of the union ABVV. They want no more baggage handling flights from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and parts of Congo.

The union says to continue the action until a clear prevention lies with procedures and aftercare in case there is a contamination event at the airport. Such a plan must come from the airport and the government.

Other unions representing baggage handlers are worried and want a prevention plan is for airport personnel. The liberal union ACLVB wants all flights to Ebola Countries are deleted until the staff is knowledgeable about the epidemic.

The airline Brussels Airlines flies several times a week on West African countries.

"We demand guidelines and procedures for the prevention and aftercare if there is a case at the airport have been," said BTB secretary Sandra Langenus.

The members of BTB, claims to be the largest union in the baggage handlers will no baggage or cargo unloading more coming from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Congo and parts of Nigeria .

There is likelyhood of a victim of it. Brussels Airlines Society has include six connections per week with Congo and receives Thursday in Zaventem already a flight from Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Langenus wants the airport operator and the National Public Health come up with measures quickly. "I'm trying to get the procedures already the whole week.  No one can give us the prescribed procedure, "she says.

As long as the union does not get "clear guarantees associated with the risk of infection," the actions will continue.

The liberal union believes that the airport staff is not sufficiently informed.The Union ACLVB therefore requires that flights to and from the Ebola countries are suspended . "Till flights can be resumed in a safe way"

Are they right to be concerned? YOU BET THEY ARE ! 

SOURCE

Update:

Considering that Ebola can survive  for several hours dried on surfaces, it's only logical that anyone handling the luggage at the departure country is also in a higher risk category, from the person issuing the ticket at the airport to all staff handling the baggage.