All had arrived from three African countries, Sierra Lone, Liberia and Guinea
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Of the 509 people screened for suspected ebola virus at the three international airports since August, only two had shown some symptoms. But even they were cleared subsequently after tests.
The majority of the people who were screened at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode airports had arrived from three African countries, Sierra Lone, Liberia and Guinea. Health authorities said that though people arriving from Nigeria had been screened in the initial phase, the country has now been taken off the surveillance list.
Health authorities said the surveillance system put in place at airports and at the district and local level would continue to function for the moment. At present, all people arriving from the three countries were being screened at the airports and the cases of those with visible symptoms are followed up. The details are being conveyed to health authorities at the district level on an hourly basis.
These officials call up people under surveillance at least twice a day to enquire about their health. In the event of any symptoms, they have been advised to inform the nearest health authorities for immediate intervention.
The entire surveillance mechanism is functioning under the district surveillance officers. Doctors from the state are being trained in batches to follow the international protocol to deal with the infection, quarantine measures and treatment.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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