The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has announced immediate preventive measures to address the Nipah virus threat. All passengers arriving in Thailand from Kolkata, India, will undergo body temperature scanning and be required to complete health declaration forms, providing details on their medical history.
Dr. Jurai Wongswant, a spokesperson for the department, stated that it may take 1-2 days to fully implement the screening procedures. Airlines operating the Kolkata-Bangkok route, such as Air Asia, Thai Airways International, and Indigo, will be notified to inform their passengers about the new measures.
It is important to note that these precautions will not be applied to arrivals from other Indian cities, as there have been no reported Nipah virus outbreaks in those areas. The registration and screening of passengers from Kolkata will enable Thai health officials to closely monitor and track any potential cases, as the symptoms may not have manifested yet.
While the World Health Organisation has not issued specific advisory guidelines on the necessary precautions to be taken by countries, it has warned of outbreaks in certain regions of India. As a result, Thailand has decided to implement these measures as a proactive step to safeguard public health.