Luxembourg Air Rescue debuts quarantine jets

(CS) Luxembourg is to play a central role in the transport of highly infectious patients in the EU as the first country in Europe to have a new generation of safety equipment available on two rescue planes.

Two Luxembourg Air Rescue Learjets have been refitted so that highly infectious patients do not come into contact with any part of the plane or the crew.

This is achieved by installing a see-through air-tight tent, with medical staff able to treat a patient using special sleeves. The patient is thus transported onto the plane in a special cocoon, which can be opened once the patient is in the tent.

When the transport is completed, the tent is destroyed.

Installing the equipment on two Learjets cost around half a million euros, with a third jet to follow. However, the bill was footed by the European Commission, which will also cover up to 85 percent of transport costs for up to 48 flights over the next two years.

In return, the jets are available to use by all EU member states. Upon request, they can also be used by other countries.

The presentation of the aircraft on Tuesday afternoon attracted considerable interest, with representatives of the World Health Organization and the US Department of State on site in Luxembourg.

Canada, Switzerland and Japan have reportedly also already inquired about the jets.

After all, Interior Minister Dan Kersch commented at the press conference, “Ebola is still a threat.”

Reporting by Jan Söfjer