NAIA on alert for mystery disease

FAÇADE of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Health and airport authorities are closely monitoring passengers arriving from Cambodia, where more than 60 children were reported to have died from a mysterious respiratory disease, as well as other countries where bird flu cases had been reported in recent years.

Only Cebu Pacific airline, which uses Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, has direct flights to and from Cambodia. But medical personnel are also monitoring transit passengers, mostly from Vietnam, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

The mystery disease has killed 61 of 62 children since April in Cambodia, but there’s no indication it is spreading from person to person.

Cambodian health officials are searching for the cause of the disease. Patients suffer from high fever, followed by severe respiratory problems that progress quickly. Some also experience neurological symptoms.

Connie Bungag, public affairs office chief of the Manila International Airport Authority, said airport authorities, including Bureau of Quarantine personnel, were on normal alert status.

She said thermal scanners manned by medical personnel were positioned at the arrival concourses of NAIA’s three terminals to monitor arriving passengers.