BANGKOK, 21 October 2014 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to impose its health officials at Don Muang Airport to detect Ebola cases.
In a proactive move against Ebola spread, Governor of Bangkok M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra has signed a BMA order appointing a working group responsible for drawing up action plans to screen people entering the country via Don Muang Airport and the Klong Toei Port. The Governor cited the authority given by the International Health Regulations Committee (2005) for him to take action to prevent Ebola importation to the capital.
The Bangkok Governor’s order however does not cover Suvarnabhumi Airport which is in Samut Prakan Province. The Governor was informed by the BMA Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation during their meeting today that if he wanted to launch similar action at Suvarnabhumi, he had to ask for permission from the Bangkok Metropolitan Council as well as the Governor of Samut Prakan.
In the meantime, M.R. Sukhumbhand asked all public health officials of the BMA to strictly check passengers at Don Muang Airport and Klong Toei Port in pursuance to the Public Health Surveillance regulations.
