3 Tamil Nadu airports not Ebola-ready

Chennai: The Union health ministry has identified three international airports in the state to be deficient in screening incoming passengers for the Ebola virus, these being Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, where additional manpower has been sought. Most airports were also found to lack proper isolation facilities.

Coimbatore airport director D. Paul Manickam said there was low risk because they only had international flights to Sharjah and Singapore, not to the affected countries. “Only last week, a Central team visited the airport and Coimbatore medical centre hospital. They were satisfied with our arrangements and another team is scheduled to visit on November 26,” he added.

The state health department has been taking strict measures. The four airports in the state, Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Madurai, have so far received a total of 1,476 people from the Ebola-affected countries since the first week of August. While, 1,006 persons are out of danger, as they had completed the 21-day incubation period, the rest are being monitored in their home towns, said Dr K. Kolandaisamy, director of public health.

He adds, “Of the total 1,476 persons, 1,368 persons are from Tamil Nadu. Those who had completed the incubation period include 937 people from Tamil Nadu. And now, 458 persons in the state and 39 persons in the other states are being monitored.”

Two passengers, a 26-year-old man from Theni, who arrived in Chennai from the Republic of Guinea in West Africa via Dubai on August 9 and 21-year-old Balamurugan of Ariyalur in Salem, who returned home for holiday from Nigeria on September 23, were suspected to have symptoms of the disease. Both had fever and were taken to the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital, where they tested negative.

The public can call the 104 helpline for clarification. The Union health ministry has opened a 24-hour emergency operation centre from August 9, 2014, when the first suspect of the viral disease arrived here. The helpline numbers are: 011-23061469, 23063205, 23061302.

The medical team at Chennai airport comprises six doctors from Saidapet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur government hospitals, and seven health inspectors.