Preventing MERS Virus, Medics Deployed to Soekarno-Hatta Airport

Jakarta Health Department deploys medical personnel to Soekarno-Hatta Airport in an effort to counteract the circulation of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) from Arab Saudi to Jakarta. In average, as many as 20,000 people from Jakarta are going to the holy land every month to perform umrah (minor hajj).

Every month, around 20,000 Jakarta pilgrims go to Arab Saudi for umrah. That means Jakarta is very prone to MERS virus

The MERS virus lately becomes a serious threat to the people performing hajj or umrah to the holy land. Based on the data, hundreds of people have died after being infected by the virus. In Jakarta, 11 pilgrims were found suffering from MERS virus when scanned at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.  Fortunately, the result was negative after being checked.

“Every month, around 20,000 Jakarta pilgrims go to Arab Saudi for umrah. That means Jakarta is very prone to MERS virus,” stated Staff of Epidemic and Surveillance Section for Jakarta Health Department, Sahruna, Wednesday (5/14).

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According to Sahruna, the medics at Soekarno-Hatta Airport are assigned to oversee the returning pilgrims from Arab Saudi. The pilgrims will be checked through a thermal scanner. If they were infected by the virus, the medics will check them manually.

“MERS virus symptoms are like fever, cough, sneezing, asphyxiate, chest pain, weakness, kidney failure, and diarrhea. If those symptoms were found, the patient will be referred to three hospitals, namely Cipto Mangunkusumo (Central Jakarta), Persahabatan (East Jakarta), and Sulianti Saroso (North Jakarta),” he explained.

Meanwhile, Head of West Jakarta Health Sub-Department Problem Handling Section, Irma Rianti, informed that aside deploying medics to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta Health Department is also rampantly holding socialization about the dangerous of MERS virus in municipalities.

“The socialization is conducted through hajj and umrah travel agents, hospitals, and community health centers. Thus, the pilgrims can always be careful while they were in the holy land,” she uttered.