Zika Virus, Juanda Airport Yet to Install Thermal Scanners

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Juanda International Airport has yet to install thermal scanners despite travel advisory issued by the government in the wake of the spread of Zika virus. According to Legal and Communication Head of PT Angkasa Pura (Persero) I Juanda Branch, Liza Anindya, they have yet to receive any recommendation to install it. “No instructions yet,” said Liza when contacted by Tempo, Thursday, February 4, 2016.

In addition, the port health office has also yet to recommend Juanda Airport to install the device. Juanda Airport, however, together with the port health office would keep disseminating it especially to passengers arrived from foreign countries “We are doing it; but we will install it if we are instructed to do so,” Liza said.

Liza explained that thermal scanners would be installed at the international arrival terminal. Because, Zika virus is suspected to have been carried by people who travelled from abroad. “Based on the information I gathered, the virus is from Latin America such as Brazil; so we would install it there.”

President Joko Widodo has made a warning for Indonesian citizen who are about to visit foreign countries in relation to Zika virus epidemic. The warning must also be followed with monitoring over people who visit Indonesia form the country of origin of Zika epidemic.

Zika virus epidemic is allegedly originated from America Latin. Brazil is one of the countries reported to have been facing Zika epidemic.

The virus has been linked to microcephaly, where a baby’s head is abnormal, small with shrunken brain. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it has launched a global response unit against the mosquito-borne virus spreading rapidly in the Americas. WHO said that Africa and Asia are vulnerable to the virus since both have a high birth rate.

EDWIN FAJERIAL