InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines – Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Manuel Roxas III said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has enough thermal scanners to monitor all passengers coming from international flights.
”We have enough thermal scanners at the airport,” Roxas said in an interview during the pre-qualification conference of LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project at the DBP Head Office in Makati City.
Roxas said the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has already been instructed to redesign the public toilets of the airport by making them hands-free to avoid spread of bacteria or virus.
”We have also implemented preventive measures like placing of disinfectant sprays,” he said.
Airport and health authorities are on alert after the World Health Organization issued an advisory last week against a mysterious respiratory disease that has already killed more than 60 children in Cambodia since April.
All passengers coming from abroad are being monitored by a thermal scanner and anybody manifesting beyond the 36.5 body temperature will be subjected to initial medical check-up as well as background information about his or her country of origin prior to his arrival to the Philippines.
A standby ambulance is also ready to transport any suspected carrier and immediate isolation and quarantine is recommended to ensure the safety of all passengers and to prevent the entry of the dreaded unknown disease.
The outbreak is being monitored by Cambodia health officers. The unknown disease has initial symptoms of high fever, rapid deterioration functions and neurological symptoms.
Airport authorities have deployed well-trained human quarantine personnel to prevent possible outbreak of the disease.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, mouth cover, body suit and gloves are available on a 24/7 basis to be used by any duty health worker.
On Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona classified Enterovirus 71 as a notifiable disease, which means that all health providers and doctors are required to report individual cases and outbreaks of the illness due to its potential danger to human or animal health.
Ona said that although fatal infection caused by Enterovirus 71 remains very rare in the Philippines, some diseases caused by the virus had occured in the country irregularly. - with InterAksyon.com
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