BADUNG, mybalinews.com – At least three thermal scanner and two sophisticated rapid molecular testing (TSM) devices have been installed in I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
All those devices will intensively operated to detect any passengers entering Bali during the human metapneumonia virus (HMPV) outbreak.
Head of Denpasar Port Health Agency (KKP), Anak Agung Ngurah Kesumajaya, said that the devices will detect the body temperature of passengers. Passengers who have a temperature above 37.5 to 38 degrees will undergo further health check-up, including thoracic swab test.
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“If the thermal scanner catches them above 37.5 or 38 degrees, we will conduct rapid molecular test. We will evaluate whether they have the potential for an outbreak, whether it is Covid or other influenza or HMPV. The device will detect it, as it is quite sophisticated,” Kesumajaya said.
Kesumajaya emphasized that until now, there has been no HMPV virus detected entering the island. However, authorities have prepared doctors, nurses, surveillance officers and laboratory officers at the arrival terminal to anticipate the HMPV virus.
Earlier reported that flights from Malaysia and China carrying passengers and arriving at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport are being given special attention or strictly monitored to prevent the spread of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) that has spread in China.
Head of Denpasar Port Health Agency (KKP), Anak Agung Ngurah Kesumajaya said that all passengers from those countries were monitored to prevent the island from the virus.
He explained that the agency has actually monitored all flight and all passengers arrived at the Bali international airport. However, flights from China and Malaysia get special attention.
“Actually, we monitored all passengers entering Bali. We have our team monitoring at the entrance,” he said.
Especially for flight from China and Malaysia, he added, the agency has also coordinate with airline to pay more attention.
“For those passenger showed several symptom such as cold and cough, our team could conduct further examination, not only based on thermal scanner,” Kesumajaya said.
Based on data from the Bali airport, arrival of passengers from China to Bali reach 1,000 to 1,100 passengers per day, Meanwhile, passengers from Malaysia at atound 2,500 passengers per day.
“quite a lot,” he added.
To anticipate the HMPV virus entering Bali, the agency has had the Satu Sehat Health Pass (SSHP) application. Passenger should fill in their health history through the application at least one to two days before the flight.
“We urged all passengers entering Bali to fill it, mentioning the symptoms of the disease that they suffered before they left their country. For example, there is flu, there is a cough, there is a fever, those are included in the characteristics of the disease,” he said.
“If there are passengers having influenza symptoms or those that can be associated with HMPV, we will check this further, later on arrival there is a monocular rapid test,” he continued.
The monocular rapid test or TCM will determine whether the passenger has influenza, or Covid-19, monkey pox and HMPV. Further examination will be conducted if medical team at the airport found the symptom.
“If they are positive on the rapid test, there are two treatments. If their condition are well, they can go to the hotel with the note that we monitor them. If they showing severe symptoms, we refer him to the hospital that has been prepared,” he explained.
Bali has prepared three referral hospitals, namely Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali Mandara Hospital, and Siloam Hospital. ( mybalinews/KAD )
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