Travellers asked to give health history

Chennai: The city airport has made it mandatory for passengers from H1N1 flu-affected regions to sign health forms, declaring their travel history, health status and the list of vaccines they had taken before the travel. All passengers are being screened by doctors, who have been asked to stand three meters away from the passengers, wearing three-layered masks.
The arrangements were made after Dr Dhingra, assistant director, family health services, ministry of health, visited the airport to oversee the screening procedures taken up by the airport authorities along with doctors of the central government health scheme and the directorate of public health, Tamil Nadu for prevention of H1N1 flu.
"All the airport staff assisting passengers or working near the aircraft are given three-layered masks. We have also been told to keep a quarantine cabin ready. This cabin will be at least 10 metres from the passenger area," an Airports Authority of India official said.
Meanwhile, at an emergency meeting convened by state health secretary V K Subburaj, directives were issued to all local and civic authorities to ensure that all passengers travelling from the influenza-affected zones should get themselves screened by doctors at least once in two days. "They should have the seal and signature of the medical practioners along with the doctor's registration numbers. The incubation period of the disease is four days. There are chances of us missing them at the airport. So, it's better to track them for at least 10 days," said director of public health Dr S Elango.
02/05/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports May 2009