Lack of a health quarantine system at the only international airport has exposed the country to the risk of many communicable diseases grappling the world. The Tribhuvan Internati-onal Airport (TIA) is devoid of health desk to screen the passengers arriving the country, inviting the possible risk of imported communicable diseases.

Experts say although Nepal is declared polio-free by World Health Organisation, if the quarantine is not maintained in the airport, there is a high chance of the disease being imported from countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria where polio is still prevalent.

Lack of quarantine facility has also exposed the country to the risk of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) which has a high death rate— 93 deaths have been reported in 250 laboratory confirmed cases of the disease. MERS-Cov was first  detected in September 2012; it is endemic in Gulf countries, labour destinations for millions of Nepali migrants who travel back home in droves every day.

Dr Badri Raj Pandey, a public health specialist, said the airport should have a health desk operating round the clock to monitor passengers to make sure that they are not carrying deadly communicable diseases.

During global outbreak of communicable diseases, Nepal has witnessed transmission of pathogens from either foreigners or Nepalis returning from abroad. Following the detection of such cases, the government had set up temporary health desks during global outbreak of diseases like Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003, and H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine flu, in 2009. The health screening desk was removed after the disease scare dwindled. 

Although there are two private-run health centres inside TIA for passengers who have been suddenly taken ill during journey, but these centres do not screen the passengers, said Dev Chandra Lal Karna of TIA.

Dr Baburam Marasini, the director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), said their proposal on establishing a health desk inside TIA awaits approval from the Ministry of Finance.

 “We have realised the need of a permanent health screening facility, and once the proposed plan is approved, we will establish a health desk inside the airport,” said Dr Marasini.

He added that the EDCD also plan to set up health centres along the major border entries to screen those travelling by land.

Published on: 24 April 2014 | The Kathmandu Post