Preventive screening of international passengers for Ebola at Vijayawada airport
Vijayawada, May 26
Authorities at Vijayawada International Airport in Andhra Pradesh began preventive screening of international passengers for Ebola on Tuesday.
This came after the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare declared an alert in view of the Ebola virus in several African countries.
An official at Vijayawada airport said that preventive screening for Ebola has been started for international passengers. All international passengers have been requested to fill out a self-declaration form for travel history after arrival.
The official said the screening was taken up as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
State Minister for Medical and Health, Satyakumar Yadav, on Sunday announced that necessary precautionary measures have been implemented in the state in light of the widespread prevalence, rising case counts, and increased mortality rates associated with the Ebola virus across several African nations.
He expressed particular concern regarding the high rate of Ebola virus transmission in countries such as Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Following warnings issued by the World Health Organisation, as well as specific guidelines, advice, and recommendations received from the Central government, the state minister declared that the Medical and Health Department is fully prepared to effectively combat the spread of the Ebola virus and manage potential cases.
He announced that measures are being taken to ensure close coordination between airport authorities and the Medical and Health Department officials of the respective districts.
This coordination aims to facilitate screening and diagnostic testing for travellers and tourists arriving in the state from the Congo, Uganda and Sudan via the international airports in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Vijayawada.
Officials said that individuals exhibiting symptoms of the virus would be immediately placed under quarantine, and medical examinations would be promptly conducted on those who have been in close contact with them.
Dedicated isolation wards, each equipped with 15 beds, are being established in hospitals located in cities that host international airports.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see Andhra Pradesh taking quick action. It's not just about screening, but also about having isolation wards ready. That shows real preparedness. 👏
Fair enough, but I hope this doesn't lead to unnecessary delays for passengers. Also, what about land borders? People coming from Africa via other countries might not be screened properly. 🤔
Finally some proactive measures! After COVID, we have learned that early screening is crucial. But I hope they also spread awareness among the public, so people don't panic unnecessarily. 🙂
On paper it looks good, but ground reality is different. Our airports often lack proper medical staff and equipment for such screening. Hope Vijayawada airport has the resources to handle this effectively. 🧐
As someone who travels frequently, I appreciate this. But we need more than just self-declaration forms. What about thermal scanners or more advanced detection methods? Let's not take shortcuts when it comes to health. 🙏
Good move by the health ministry. But I'm a bit skeptical about coordination between airport and health department officials. We have seen many times that such coordination is weak. Let's hope it works this time. 🤞