Bangkok on alert against Ebola

BANGKOK, October 27 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been on high alert against the deadly Ebola virus, including deploying staffs at the Don Mueang Airport in the capital and the Bangkok Port in Klong Toei area to screen international visitors, especially those with travel records to affected areas. BMA Spokeswoman Tridao Apaiwong told journalists on Monday although there has been no confirmed Ebola case in Thailand, BMA executives have discussed special precautions to screen out Ebola, as a number of international visitors have been entering and exiting the capital. The spokeswoman said that the executives have then ordered the BMA's Health Department to set up a surveillance system against the fatal virus, form two working groups, headed by Bangkok Governor MR. Sukhumbhand Paribatra himself, and issue special measures, under which international visitors entering Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport and the Bangkok Port are screened. The spokeswoman acknowledged those under the BMA's close watch include international visitors from 45 countries with Ebola risks, namely three West African countries hit by the deadly disease, who are to be questioned and monitored for 21 days, while ill visitors must be sent to hospitals for further examinations. As Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport is located in Bangkok's neighbouring Samut Prakan Province, the spokeswoman stated that the BMA has sent its staffs to work with officials of the Ministry of Public Health for the same mission. According to the spokeswoman, BMA staffs will also ask local residents, volunteers and business operators to look for those with suspicious symptoms in their communities and inform health authorities of anyone with Ebola-liked symptoms. BMA staffs have, meanwhile, found 1,089 visitors from countries with Ebola outbreaks, 11 of them came from countries with severe Ebola epidemics, eight of whom remain in Bangkok and are in good health. (TNA)