Soetta Airport Tightens Surveillance of Travelers from Abroad to Prevent Nipah Virus

JAKARTA - The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) Quarantine Health Center (BBKK), Tangerang, Banten, has increased surveillance of air travelers from abroad, as an effort to anticipate the emergence of cases of transmission of the Nipah virus.

"Whether there is or no virus, we already have an olimnesia system. In that system there is a health declaration, so travelers are asked to fill out their health status before arriving in Indonesia as an effort to find out their body condition," said Head of the Soetta-Naning Airport BBKK, Nugrahini, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 27.

He said that this strengthening of supervision and health screening would be adjusted dynamically following the current situation.

The main health protocol that will currently apply includes airlines being required to conduct initial health checks at the departure point to check the health status of each air traveler.

"Then from there in the last 21 days we check to which country. Well, based on that content before flying, then we can later summarize or can know the health profile of each plane that will land in Indonesia," he explained.

"For air travelers who enter the country, they will be closely monitored. However, if they show symptoms that lead to the characteristics of the Nipah virus, they must comply with health guidelines," he continued.

"If there are people from infected countries, for example, there are many people in India now, then we have a profile of an airplane that is a direct flight from India to Jakarta. From there we will see if there are people with symptoms or not. If there are, then the officers will go up to boarding and further examination," he said.

Naning said the airport authorities have currently alerted a number of special checkpoints in the flight terminal area with thermal scanners, health officers also conduct a visual inspection of the flight passengers.

"So the system is already in place and will continue to be implemented. Because every country can have potentially epidemic closed communicable diseases," he said.

He said that so far there has been no case of Nipah spread in Indonesia. However, his party is still on alert and strengthening surveillance for the emergence of the outbreak.

"Until today, from our monitoring, we have not found anyone who has signs and symptoms of the virus/disease," he said.

His party has also coordinated with the authorities to quarantine animals in an effort to prevent Nipah disease which comes from animals such as jellyfish, monkeys and pigs.

"The appeal of the community to all travelers is to continue to improve the pattern of clean and healthy life. If you eat fruit food, please peel it, wash it clean. And to keep a balanced health," he said.

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies said the Nipah virus can attack the lungs and brain. Symptoms include fever, headache, drowsiness, confusion, and coma, with a mortality rate exceeding 40 percent among infected patients.