Alert level on swine flu raised at RP's international airports

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/26/2009 8:54 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/26/09/alert-level-swine-flu-raised-rps-international-airports

The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said it is closely watching all international flights arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) due to fears of swine flu entering the country.

Dr. Michiko Mindana, medical officer of the Bureau of Quarantine of DOH at NAIA, said that their monitoring of international flights and passengers arriving is currently under alert level 3.

The bureau is closely monitoring all international flights, particularly those coming directly or having connecting flights from the United States and Mexico, which has declared a state of emergency due to swine flu.

The DOH official said they are utilizing thermal scanners to check for passengers with possible fever especially those arriving from countries with reported cases of swine flu infections.

All international airports in the country are currently under a 24-hour watch and passengers who have possible symptoms of swine flu infections will undergo rigid physical examinations and questions from authorities.

The bureau has also designated an isolation area near the airport and has two ambulances on standby if there is a need for any passenger to be quarantined.

Mindana said all medical staff are also equipped with personal safety equipment to prevent infections when dealing with infected passengers.

Mindana said that their monitoring system is not new, since they have been doing the same system to prevent the entry of bird flu and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the country.

Aside from human quarantine procedures, the Department of Agriculture also has foot baths to prevent passengers' shoes from bringing in any virus.