While visa and
border controls have been tightened across the globe to check illegal migration
and human trafficking, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently
published a handbook of guidelines for all member countries to prevent the
entry and control of tropical diseases.
“International
borders are under constant threat from the disease-causing organisms,” explains
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, entomologist and Deputy Director at the ICMR-National
Institute of Malaria Research, in Goa, who prepared the first draft of the
handbook.
Underlining the
importance of the guidlines which includ inputs from several experts across the
world, Dr. Kumar told The Hindu that contagious diseases like
malaria, plague, SARS, H1N1, Zika, Chikungunya and dengue, have spread across
international borders.”
“All countries
including India are required to implement International Health Regulation(IHR),
2005, passed by the World Health Assembly to prevent entry of vector and
pathogen species having potential to cause epidemics of viral, parasitic and
bacterial diseases via sea, air and land routes.”
In India,
Directorate General of Health Services is the nodal agency for implementation
of these regulations at the points of entry.
Aircraft cabins
on international flights are treated with aerosol just after take-off and
before landing to kill pathogens and insects that might have entered the
aircraft while at the airport or in the hangers.
Similarly
kitchens, galleys, cabins and holds of ships must be routinely treated against
insects and rodents.
Source: THE HINDU-27th November,2017
