Ebola alert at Naia

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–To keep airport workers informed about the deadly Ebola virus, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Sunday said it would seek the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) through the Bureau of Human Quarantine in conducting an awareness campaign at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), especially for government and nongovernment personnel directly interacting with passengers.

“The intention is to keep everyone informed about Ebola and how they can do their jobs every day without living in fear or anxiety,” MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said in a statement.

About 1,200 people have reportedly been infected in the current outbreak, largely in countries in West Africa.

Honrado said airport workers could use firsthand information from health officers on top of the news gathered from different media platforms.

The MIAA chief said the frontline personnel at the Naia are composed of the airline and ground handling staff, customs, immigration, health doctors, bridge operators, janitorial personnel and public relations staff.

Honrado said this move is in consonance with the World Health Organization’s call to step up public awareness on Ebola which has already been declared by the WHO as a “public health emergency of international concern.”

“To the best we can and as far as allowable under government regulations, we are willing to support the Bureau of Human Quarantine to run an awareness campaign at the Naia,” Honrado stressed.

In 2002, the MIAA has also collaborated with the Bureau of Quarantine during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).