JAKARTA - The Thai government has examined more than 1,700 airplane passengers coming from Kolkata, India, regarding the potential spread of the Nipah virus. So far, there has not been a single positive case, according to the Thai Ministry of Public Health.
In addition to inspections at the country's entrance, the Department of Medical Services has also instructed three major hospitals, namely Rajavithi, Lerdsin, and Nopparat Rajathanee, to prepare isolation rooms and specialist doctor teams. This step is taken in anticipation of finding suspected or confirmed infected patients.
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (MOPH) said that the passengers examined were from Kolkata, West Bengal, India, who had previously reported an outbreak of the Nipah virus.
The Minister of Public Health, Phatthana Phromphat, said this step was taken under the direct orders of the Prime Minister.
"Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered all relevant agencies to increase screening measures," Phatthana said, quoted from the Nation Thailand website.
He added that the screening team at the airport had started working since last weekend. Authorities said that an average of almost 700 travelers per day arrived from the region through Thailand's three main airports, namely Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket.
Phatthana also explained that he had coordinated with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, as well as airport authorities to ensure that the inspection was thorough.
"If a suspected case is found, the Department of Medical Sciences can immediately isolate the patient and conduct virus testing within eight hours," he explained.
He also emphasized that the pattern of transmission of the Nipah virus is different from Covid-19.
"People who are infected but have not shown symptoms cannot transmit the virus during the incubation period," said Phatthana.
"Therefore, the risk of transmission to other passengers on the same flight is very low," he continued.
This readiness step is taken as a form of early prevention, although until now Thailand is still free from Nipah virus cases.
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