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Tourists, locals arriving here with communicable diseases under scrutiny
Tourists arriving in Sri Lanka with communicable diseases such as the MERS respiratory virus now spreading in Saudi Arabia will be put on observation under a scheme to be put into effect this week by the Government.
The move came as health authorities in Saudi Arabia have reported three more fatalities from the MERS respiratory virus, taking the death toll in the world’s worst-hit country to 163.
Under the plan, data will be collected regarding tourists who may be carrying communicable diseases and passed on to the relevant authorities for follow-up action, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratna told the Sunday Times.
He said airlines would be advised to collect data on the passengers, particularly those travelling from countries where there are outbreaks of various communicable diseases so that passengers could be monitored.
“On arrival they will be checked at the health desk at the Katunayake airport and referred for further treatment if required. If they are medically fit to travel they will be allowed to proceed but will have to provide information about the locations they planned to visit. This will help to inform the nearest Medical Health Office to act if necessary,” he said.
He said the Public Health Office (PHO) at the airport will also be monitoring the arrival of passengers to locate persons carrying communicable diseases.
Dr. Bimal Dias, head of the PHO at the airport said that in the event a passenger is found to be carrying a communicable disease the information regarding other passengers who travelled close to the passenger would be obtained to provide necessary medical assistance.
He said the airlines will also be advised to refer such passengers via the health desk.
He said the action was being taken in keeping with international civil aviation requirements.
Dr. Dias said that locals arriving in the country with communicable diseases would also be monitored and assistance provided to them.
The plans have been drawn up by the Civil Aviation Ministry in consultation with the Health Ministry, Customs, Immigration and Emigration Departments, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, air lines and the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority.