Ebola screening counter set up at Pakistan airport

The Pakistan government has set up a facility at Islamabad airport to scan passengers coming from African countries for Ebola, media reported Saturday.

Members of Pakistani peace missions returning from African countries on chartered flights would be checked in the aircraft, Dawn online reported.

Moreover, people coming from three countries of West Africa - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - will be put under observation for 21 days after their arrival to ensure they are not affected by Ebola.

An official stationed at the airport said that passengers would be checked physically and through thermo-scan machines.

"The crew of the incoming airplane give a report about the situation of the flight and patients, if any, to the traffic control centre before landing. That report is called the general declaration," he said.

He said the part of the general declaration related to the health condition of the passengers would be checked by the staff deputed at the facility.

If the declaration revealed the presence of any patient showing symptoms of Ebola, arrangements would be made to scan the patient.

Airport Health Officer Irfan Tahir said that a guideline for the Ebola patients had been received from the health ministry.

The immigration staff has also been directed that if they identify any passenger coming from the African countries, they should immediately inform the Ebola counter, he said.