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Lombok airport strengthens monitoring of Zika virus
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On alert – Passengers of a ferry arriving from Singapore pass a thermal scanner at the arrival terminal at the Batam Centre International Port in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday. (Antara/MN Kanwa)
T
o prevent the spread of the Zika virus in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), port health authorities at Lombok International Airport in Mataram have tightened the monitoring of travelers, especially those arriving from Singapore.
“At the airport, we have strengthened our surveillance of flight passengers from Singapore. This is to anticipate Zika [virus],” said Datu Kusumajati, coordinator of the Port Health Office (KKP) at Lombok Airport, on Thursday.
Among anticipatory measures taken by the office include the installation of thermo-scanners at the airport’s international arrival terminal and the distribution of Health Alert Cards (HAC) that all passengers are required to fill, he further said.
“We also carry out aircraft sanitation and insect eradication measures in line with existing procedures,” said Datu.
As earlier reported, the Health Ministry, via its disease control and environmental health directorate general, had sent a circular to all KKP offices, including in NTB. They were requested to increase their readiness in facing the risks of the Zika virus spread from Singapore.
Dated on Aug. 30 and signed by Disease Control and Environmental Health director general Muhammad Subuh, the circular states that all KKP officials must give special attention to travelers arriving from Singapore by, among others things, requiring them to fill HACs.
Any indications of the Zika fever must be reported to the Health Ministry’s airport outbreak posts within 24 hours. Port authorities must also inform indications of the infection to health agencies in their respected areas.
“We have coordinated with state airport authority Angkasa Pura and airline operators on these anticipatory measures. We have not yet found any Zika case at the Lombok Airport, but we must remain vigilant,” said Datu. (ebf)
