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Thermo-scanners installed at Riau ports to prevent Zika
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Stay alert: Health officials inspect two passengers arriving from Singapore at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Sept. 1 in effort to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. (thejakartapost.com/Rizal Harahap)
T
he Port Health Office (KKP) of Pekanbaru has installed thermo-scanners at entrance gates across Riau, following the issuance of a Health Ministry circular, which ordered all KKPs to tighten monitoring of travelers arriving from Singapore.
Pekanbaru KKP head Budi Hidayat said all travelers from Singapore were subject to health examinations to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.
Thermo-scanners installed at ports would give warnings if there was a passenger with a body temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius. “Personnel have been deployed at arrival terminals in all sea and airports. If they find passengers suspected of suffering from Zika, they should take quarantine measures before referring them to a hospital,” said Budi.
He further said all passengers arriving from Singapore were also required to fill health alert cards (HAC) so that it would be easier for health officials to take action.
“If they find a passenger with health problems after he or she arrives from a Zika-infected countries, they must bring him or her to the nearest healthcare facility for medical treatment,” Budi said.
“Preventive measures must be increased because Riau directly borders with Singapore. Passenger monitoring aims to detect whether the Zika virus is currently spreading from our neighboring country by way of travelers' bodies.”
Passenger surveillance has taken place at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru since last Tuesday. In a week, the airport serves five flights to Singapore. Silk Air serves Pekanbaru-Singapore route on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:05 p.m. local time while Jet Star flies to Singapore on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 5:35 p.m. (ebf)
