New Delhi:
The Health Ministry is planning to increase the number of thermal scanner equipments at international airports across the country from 18 to 24 to check the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“Presently, there are 18 scanners at international airports and we are likely to increase 24 thermal scanner equipment at all international airports for checking all incoming passengers, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Arun Kumar Panda said.
“More than 33,000 passengers have been screened till November 20,” he said, inaugurating a seminar on ‘National Diabetes Summit 2014’ organised by ASSOCHAM.
“We have two apex labs - National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), Delhi, and National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. We are getting another four labs ready to scale up the capacity under National Centre for Diseases Control,” he said.
“WHO recommends for exit screening of passengers from the badly affected countries. It does not recommend entry screening but we are doing the entry screening also,” he said.
New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi, who was present at the seminar, said India has taken steps towards an integrated approach to diabetes prevention and control and efforts are needed to educate the public about diabetes risk factors, prevention and complications, using clear and simple message. There is an urgent need to develop better surveillance system.
