Airport screening desks for swine flu

New Delhi: With the Ministry of Civil Aviation directing international airports to facilitate enhanced surveillance and screening of passengers arriving from nations affected by swine influenza, special desks were set to become operational from midnight on Wednesday at nine international airports. [According to a PTI report, on the directions of the Maharashtra government, passengers from specified countries were being screened from Wednesday at the Mumbai airport.
The Ministry asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to instruct all the 17 international airports, including five that are with private operators, to set up such facilities manned by medical and paramedical personnel provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will grant entry passes to the personnel.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation was told to arrange for all pilots to provide a general declaration on health to the airport health organisations declaring any illness among passengers other than airsickness or the effects of accidents in the aircraft.
Crew members are to be vigilant about passengers coming from affected countries and report to immigration authorities and airport health officials any suspected cases.
Passengers and crew arriving from affected countries have to declare fever and respiratory symptoms, history of visits to any swine flu-affected area or history of contact with the affected cases, in a pro forma statement.
30/04/09 Aarti Dhar/The Hindu

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Categories: Airports Apr 2009