MANILA, June 10 — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) heightens its health alert at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) against the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) in Manila following official guidance from the Bureau of Quarantine today.
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The said bureau released its memorandum circular directing, among others, airports to heighten surveillance and to enforce health screening measures on arriving and departing passengers and crew.
The circular instructs Quarantine officials at NAIA to issue health checklists and notices to passengers. Health officers as well are to operate thermal scanners at the arrival areas of the airport.
Further, aircraft commanders are directed to report in advance passengers on-board who have flu-like symptoms or any health emergency to on-duty health officers at NAIA.
MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado says that, as part of operational procedures, the MIAA Medical Division is on standby to assist officials of the Bureau of Quarantine.
Should anyone be suspected of having the virus, health personnel are instructed to immediately escort the passenger to designated quarantine areas.
General Manager Honrado asks for patience from passengers as they cooperate with health procedures employed at the airport.
“While saddening, airport management takes its cue from the sudden spread of Mers-CoV in South Korea to intensify health screening efforts at NAIA. I request passengers to cooperate with Quarantine officials and to be honest in declaring their health status,” Honrado adds.
Honrado reassures the public that health screening measures at the airport have been enhanced ever since the Department of Health first issued its advisory regarding Mers-CoV in April 2014.
He says medical teams are sufficient to screen arriving passengers at the terminals. They have been further instructed to be firm so as not to let any passenger get past health screening procedures.
Nearly 80,000 people have been recorded to arrive at NAIA from South Korea since last month. (NAIA-MIAA)
