PRESS RELEASE
To: All Media
Att: News Editors
For immediate release
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Gauteng watching airports to prevent importation of diseases into the country
The Gauteng Department of Health is keeping a 24 hours medical surveillance at the
province’s airports to prevent the importation of major viral diseases such as the viral
hemorrhagic fever and avian flu into the province.
The department has established clinics at the major ports of entry into the province
which are OR Tambo International and Lanseria Airports. These clinics employ two
doctors, 14 professional nurses and three administration staff who carry out routine
surveillance activities for 24 hours without disrupting trade or travel into the country.
All passengers arriving through the International Arrivals are screened to rule out
raised body temperatures. Infrared thermal scanners have been installed within the
airport premises for this crucial purpose.
“Raised body temperatures are highly indicative of infectious conditions, passengers
who are detected to have raised body temperatures are further assessed by clinic
staff to rule out infectious condition. These infectious conditions may include
formidable diseases like the Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Malaria and the Acute
Influenza illnesses like the Avian Flu,” says MEC Papo.
Arriving passengers with symptoms and signs of respiratory conditions are isolated
and investigated to rule out formidable respiratory conditions added the MEC.
“In the year 2012, the OR Tambo clinic received an award for being one of the top
performing viral watch sites in the country and this serves as an assurance that no
disease will easily enter the country and cause harm to South Africans,” concluded
MEC.
One of the services provided by the two clinics is the provision of Yellow Fever
Vaccinations to travelers at a minimal cost compared to private clinics.
Since 2009, the OR Tambo clinic alone vaccinated more than 1,368 travelers against
the disease. The clinic has also detected and referred over 200 Malaria cases for
treatment.
Other services provided by the clinics include: disinfecting of aircrafts arriving from
yellow fever and malaria endemic countries; free medical travel advice for members
of the public travelling to or arriving from overseas; skeletal primary health care
services to airport staff and employees which includes Family Planning, Voluntary
Counseling and Testing for HIV, routine counseling services, and routine diagnostic
medical screenings.
The clinics also provide emergency care services such as Hypertensive and Diabetic
emergencies, Acute Asthmatic attacks, Acute Gastroenteritis, Acute Respiratory
Infections, Severe Malaria, Food Poisoning, Acute Anxiety Attacks, Pulmonary
embolism, Obstetric emergencies to patients in and around the airport as the need
arises and the busier OR Tambo clinic treats over 20 of such emergencies every
week.
Contact details for the clinics: OR Tambo Airport 011 390 3006, Lanseria Airport
011 701 2077.
ENDS
For more information please contact the Department’s spokesperson: Simon
Zwane on 082 551 9892
For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Department of
Health’s portal at www.health.gpg.gov.za; Twitter: @gautenghealth Facebook:
gauteng provincial health dept
Issued by Gauteng Department of Health