SARS watch extended to domestic airport

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) yesterday intensified its surveillance of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), extending passenger monitoring up to the Manila Domestic Airport terminal.

"We have involved all terminal supervisors and employees in the surveillance system. All employees deployed at Terminal 1, 2 and the domestic terminal are now being briefed on how to detect a possible SARS victim.

The surveillance system is stretched from the concourse, immigration, Customs, in and around the terminal and the transit area of domestic terminal.

We have directed terminal supervisors at the Manila Domestic to watch out for passengers coming from Hong Kong who may be flying to the provinces using the domestic airport," MIAA General Manager Edgardo Manda said.

Manda met yesterday with airline employees, including frontline personnel like aerobridge operators at the Manila Domestic Airport to discuss the measures being taken in preventing SARS from spreading through the airports.

"Based on the lessons learned from other countries, we believe early detection is vital to preventing the spread of the disease," Manda said.

He cited the case of Vietnam, which was able to detect the source of infection in a hospital. "They were able seal it. The spread can really be prevented," he said.

On Malaysia’s reported plans to arrest infected passengers who give false information, Manda said he supports sanctions, "but not to that extent."

"I support plans to prevent dishonesty in filling up the health checklists, but not to the extent of arresting passengers. We ourselves are now more strict, and that we can hold them in the quarantine area at the concourse. They could be held in the area until they submit their checklist," Manda said.

The airport chief said that during the first two weeks of the implementation of the health check, passengers were uncooperative and complained a lot.

But because of the awareness on the danger of the virus, passengers are now very cooperative.