Kalibo airport officials monitor passengers with MERS-CoV

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Domestic and regional flights to Kalibo International Airport are closely monitor by authorities for possible entry of passengers with the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Confirmed cases of MERS-Cov in South Korea had killed 10 persons and 122 other affected by the virus. South Korea's first case involved a 68-year-old businessman who had traveled to the Middle East last month.

Kalibo airport manager Martin Tere said precautions are in place to track the deadly virus by strictly requiring all passengers to undergo infection control protocols before disembarking the plane.

Quarantine officials will be using thermal scanner to check the body temperatures of all arriving passengers from other countries, specifically South Korea.

Passengers showing symptoms of MERS-CoV are placed under observation and isolation to prevent the possible spread of virus infections.

Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Jr. said the country is so far MERVs-CoV free. They are also in close coordination with hospitals and health centers and the Bureau of Quarantine in airports in Aklan to monitor the viral respiratory illness.  

“We have to strengthen surveillance of suspected cases of Mers-Cov,” added Cuachon. 

Kalibo airport is the main gateway of Koreans to the famed island of Boracay. There are four daily flights from Incheon, South Korea to Kalibo International Airport. 

The symptoms of MERS-CoV include diarrhea, cough, fever, shortness of breath and breathing difficulty. The precautionary measures, according to the Department of Health, include proper hand hygiene and avoiding contact with animals particularly camels, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas.