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The Philippines, remarkably, has yet to report its first case of H5N1. Given their close proximity to other affected nations, why this is so is a bit of a mystery.
In an attempt to keep the virus out of their country, airport security measures have been bolstered, as reported here in the Manila Standard Today.
Airport steps up anti-bird flu drive
The Manila International Airport Authority has stepped up its anti-bird flu drive amid fears the deadly virus is about to sweep across the Asia-Pacific region.
MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi said he has received reports from international health authorities of continued outbreaks of the avian influenza in Indonesia, China, Thailand and Singapore.
A contingency plan has been issued by the Department of Health through its Bureau of Quarantine while the MIAA has drawn up specific guidelines and recommendations for frontliners traveling and arriving with passengers from places associated with the disease.
“The MIAA is committed to provide a safe and secure airport... The Philippines is among the few countries that has remained bird flu-free. And we want to keep it that way,” stressed Cusi.
He said the measures at the terminals cover thermal scanning for incoming passengers and flight crew; footbath to prevent entry of virus from host countries; full staffing of medical personnel detailed in the MIAA-Bureau of Quarantine; and continuous coordination with related offices to ensure that the safeguards were in place.
The World Health Organization records indicate that the H5N1 strain has killed at least 190 people since it laid waste on Asian poultry four years ago, with neighboring Indonesia posting 79 deaths. Vito Barcelo
