Soekarno-Hatta Airport Tightens Surveillance on Travellers from Four Countries

The Quarantine Health Agency at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (BBKK Soetta) in Tangerang, Banten, is tightening surveillance on the arrival of air travellers from four countries anticipated to have cases of Hantavirus transmission. “We are tightening surveillance on countries where the Hanta virus has been identified or detected,” said the Head of BBKK Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Naning Nugrahini, in Tangerang on Tuesday. She explained that special surveillance through the implementation of health standards is being applied to air passengers from those four countries, namely the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, and Panama. This step, Naning continued, is in response to findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding transmission cases involving three cruise ship passengers who died from the virus. She stated that for now, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport authorities have reinstated health standards for air travellers entering Indonesia, where they will conduct further steps such as examinations by doctors and in-depth checks. “We at Soekarno-Hatta are already prepared. The first is through filling out health declarations in the Satu Sehat application. From there, we will know the risk from that flight, whether there are high-risk individuals or not. Second, upon disembarking, there is observation of signs and symptoms through thermal scanners and visual observation,” she explained. According to Naning, Soekarno-Hatta Airport has special evaluation lanes for infectious diseases. If an infectious disease is identified, further handling will be carried out. Her side urges air travellers to always remain alert and maintain health protocols. This is because Hantavirus is transmitted through urine, saliva, and contamination from rodents. “Clearly, to prevent the transmission of this case is by maintaining health protocols and strengthening the immune system,” she said.