Maharashtra govt asks for scanners to screen fliers for Ebola

The state government has also asked the Centre to provide thermal body scanning machines for airports at Pune and Nagpur, to check passengers for a rise in body temperature.

The Maharashtra government has written to Central authorities, requesting them to screen crew members of vessels arriving from Ebola-affected countries in west Africa, the Bombay high court was informed on Monday.

It has also asked the Centre to provide thermal body scanning machines for airports at Pune and Nagpur, to check passengers for a rise in body temperature.

The division bench of justice AS Oka and justice GS Kulkarni is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former scribe Ketan Tirodkar, which has sought measures to be implemented to anticipate and prevent the entry of the Ebola virus into the country.

The state also said in its affidavit that after a September 9 review meeting held with various officials, it was decided to issue revised guidelines about the follow-up of passengers who were classified as low and medium-risk after disembarking at state airports.

The bench asked the counsel for the central government, Rui Rodrigues, to take instructions on the aspect of screening ship crews and to inform the court at the next hearing.

The matter has been kept for Wednesday.

The virus has largely affected Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Liberia, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring it as an international health emergency. So far, more than 1,500 people have died after contracting the virus.