Representational image. (Thinkstock)
New Delhi:
Health Ministry has drawn up an action plan for minimising MERS-CoV infection to Haj pilgrims who are likely to take the pilgrimage from August with Saudi Arabia still looming under the threat of the disease which has reported 455 deaths from 26 countries till June 18.
First reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) causes respiratory illness that is new to humans and has since spread to several other countries.
In an advisory sent to Home Ministry, the Health Ministry has suggested to direct immigration officials at the airport to assist health officers in tracing cases of suspected MERS-CoV at the medical health units for Haj.
Over 3.83 lakh people are expected to go for Haj this year.
"The immigration officials should direct all travellers who are self-reporting at the immigration counters with any symptoms of fever and respiratory distress to report to medical unit at the airport," the advisory said.
The advisory has been issued for travellers visiting to/from Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea and other affected countries.
The advisory has also suggested the airport officials to keep stock of triple layer masks, hand sanitizers and disposal bags, which can be used for any passenger reporting with symptoms of the disease and co-passengers who are likely to have contact. They have been asked to follow proper aircraft disinfection procedure as per the recommendations of WHO.
The virus appears to be circulating throughout the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in Saudi Arabia, where the majority of cases, more than 85 per cent have been reported since 2012, it said.
Cases of newly found MERS-CoV have been reported from Middle East countries including Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Emirates and Yemen and Republic of Korea and some parts of Europe.
Since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,289 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 455 related deaths from Middle East countries and other parts of the world, it said.
First reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) causes respiratory illness that is new to humans and has since spread to several other countries.
In an advisory sent to Home Ministry, the Health Ministry has suggested to direct immigration officials at the airport to assist health officers in tracing cases of suspected MERS-CoV at the medical health units for Haj.
Over 3.83 lakh people are expected to go for Haj this year.
"The immigration officials should direct all travellers who are self-reporting at the immigration counters with any symptoms of fever and respiratory distress to report to medical unit at the airport," the advisory said.
The advisory has been issued for travellers visiting to/from Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea and other affected countries.
The advisory has also suggested the airport officials to keep stock of triple layer masks, hand sanitizers and disposal bags, which can be used for any passenger reporting with symptoms of the disease and co-passengers who are likely to have contact. They have been asked to follow proper aircraft disinfection procedure as per the recommendations of WHO.
The virus appears to be circulating throughout the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in Saudi Arabia, where the majority of cases, more than 85 per cent have been reported since 2012, it said.
Cases of newly found MERS-CoV have been reported from Middle East countries including Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Emirates and Yemen and Republic of Korea and some parts of Europe.
Since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,289 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 455 related deaths from Middle East countries and other parts of the world, it said.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
