MANGALURU: Deputy commissioner K V Rajendra directed the cabin crew members of airlines, to identify passengers in their flight, who have symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes, before landing at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA).
The DC chaired a meeting of officials from the health department, MIA, airlines, customs and CISF, at the airport on Tuesday, in the wake of two monkeypox cases reported in Kerala. The second monkeypox case, which was found in a 31-year-old man from Kannur, had travelled via MIA. The DC said that since large numbers of passengers from Kerala arrive at MIA, the airport staff and airline cabin crew members need to join hands with the health department, to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
“Cabin crew members should identify passengers with symptoms, prior to a flight landing. Passengers with symptoms should be segregated, and meet the health officer. Suspected cases should be sent to the monkeypox isolation ward, reserved at the Wenlock District Hospital, in an ambulance immediately,” the DC said.
He said that information, education and communication (IEC) on monkeypox should be displayed in Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English, at various spots at the airport.
“Pictures that create awareness on monkeypox should be displayed on the airport premises, and announcements should be made to alert passengers. Similarly, such information should be shared on WhatsApp groups. Awareness should also be created among cab drivers on the disease,” he said. DHO in-charge Dr Rajesh B V, district nodal officer for Covid-19, Dr Ashok H, district surveillance officer Dr Jagadeesh K, MIA head of operations Srikanth Tata, and airport medical officer Dr Nishitha were present.
Dr Jagadeesh said that out of 11 passengers from Dakshina Kannada, who travelled with the 31-year-old hailing from Kannur district, who was infected with monkeypox, nine were traced. “We are trying to contact others as well. All the nine passengers are asymptomatic, and have been isolated. The health officials have visited their houses for verification, and all of them are found to be healthy. We have asked them to contact us, in case of any health issues,” he added.
