BORDER monitoring at international ports and airports have been heightened after reports of nine deaths in China to the deadly coronavirus and about 450 confirmed cases in China and five other countries.
Speaking to The Fiji Times, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete confirmed that scrutiny at all borders processing international visitor arrivals have been increased after confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus cases spread from China to Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US this week.
The seriousness of the issue was highlighted by news that the World Health Organization panel will meet in Geneva to determine whether to declare the outbreak “a public health emergency of international concern” — a term only used for the gravest of epidemics.
Dr Waqainabete said while the Health Ministry was in close discussions with WHO on the issue, lessons learnt locally from SARS, Men-C and the recent measles outbreak have prepared local health authorities for any situation that may arise.
“We have our health protection unit and they are focused on what’s best to do about plotting our border control and debate the necessary policies and strategies we need to have in place,” he said.
“They had a meeting in Nadi this (yesterday) morning where they spoke about what they intend to do and what they are doing.
“And that’s not new, we also did this with the recent measles outbreak which I believe we handled very well.
“Whether there is an outbreak happening or not, at all times our public health teams and borders in terms of ports and airports are well prepared for these types of situations.”
When the minister was contacted on Monday this week, international media had reported the mysterious virus had claimed three lives in China and he had issued alerts to border security and screening officials to be on the lookout for persons arriving into the country from China, Thailand and Japan who displayed flu-like symptoms.
At the time, media reports said 170 people had been hospitalised in Wuhan City, Habei, China, including nine in critical condition.
By yesterday, international media reported the number of deaths had increased to nine in China and confirmed cases of the deadly virus had increased to 446.
This included 440 people in China and one each for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US and two confirmed cases in Thailand.
