Airline operators, handlers, air carriers and all international airport authorities will no longer distribute Health Declaration Checklist to incoming international passengers after the alert status on viruses was lifted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) relayed this information to the public and all airport stakeholder at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
In a memorandum circular dated February 6, the BOQ said the health declaration usually filled out on arrival by passengers and airline crew from an international travel will now be discontinued, effective immediately.
However, its reissuance will commence within three days following an alert from the WHO, which usually gives advice of public-health emergency of international concern.
It is also the WHO that relays reported cases of communicable disease that could be carried onboard by passengers from infected countries.
Quarantine doctors and nurses at the Naia discontinue the distribution of the cards last week after WHO declared the countries affected by the Zika virus are no longer a threat.
“If you’ve been putting off a trip because of Zika virus, you can officially travel worry-free to a few Latin American cities,” according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Who added that destinations at high altitude are at “minimal risk” for Zika virus, since the disease-carrying mosquitoes can only survive in humid climate.
Further to the club’s latest update in respect of strengthened quarantine measures against the propagation of the Zika Virus, many countries and members are advised that the country’s quarantine measures have been scaled back to normal procedures and requirements.
Quarantine officials has removed the Zika virus from the list of quarantine-able diseases following the WHO’s declaration on November 18, 2016, that the Zika virus will no longer be treated as an international public health emergency.