Health officials have been banned from shaking hands with those arriving from Ebola-hit countries just days after the practice was defended. Immigration officers at Heathrow Airport were criticised for shaking hands with passengers on the chaotic first day of Britain's airport screening procedures this week. Public Health England (PHE), which is in charge of the screening process, originally defended the practice, saying there was no evidence the virus could be caught through hand contact. Scroll down for video Health officials screening arrivals at UK airports are being told not to shake hands with passengers, despite a statement put out earlier this week claiming the practice was safe
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Immigration officials criticised for shaking hands with new arrivals this week
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Public Health England originally defended the practice, saying it was safe
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But today it emerged they are advising staff not to use the greeting
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They continue to insist the disease cannot be transferred by hand contact
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But they claim the warning to staff is an 'extra precaution' due to risk
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Global death toll from the disease expected to hit 4,500 this week
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David Cameron spoke to world leaders today to plan joint response
'@placeholder has also been working closely with Heathrow management teams to review advice to a range of airport staff.