A passenger checkpoint has been set up at Sarajevo International Airport to reduce the possibility of coronavirus spreading. This is a counter of the Federal Sanitary Border Inspection Unit of Sarajevo Airport, where passengers fill in a questionnaire related to their current state of health.
Information including the place and address of intended stay in Bosnia-Herzegovina, number of persons, period of stay and contact telephone are also taken, was explained to Fena news agency by spokeswoman for Sarajevo International Airport Sanja Bagaric. She added that “the screening of passengers is carried out in accordance with the order of the Crisis Team of the Federal Ministry of Health.”
“Passengers from all incoming flights at Sarajevo International Airport are being scanned,” Bagaric said. According to her, the information is especially taken from travelers coming from China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. “At the same time, they are given instructions (leaflets) on how to proceed if it happens that subsequently, or during their intended stay in BiH, potential symptoms appear, and to whom exactly to contact in that case, which also contain the telephone numbers of the nearest Public Health Institutes,” Bagaric said.
After gathering information, if needed, the Public Health Institutions shall be notified of the implementation of the measures under their responsibility, which, if necessary, shall send professional staff and epidemiologists, as stated by Sarajevo International Airport.
A large number of pneumonia cases connected to new coronavirus was registered in the City of Wuhan, Hubei Province,China, in 2019. The virus spread even beyond the borders of China (Thailand, Japan, South Korea).
Coronaviruses mostly cause mild to moderate diseases of the upper respiratory tract like common cold. Most people get infected by those viruses at some point in their lives and they have symptoms such as running nose, headache, cough, sore throat and high temperature. However, coronaviruses can cause severe respiratory disease symptoms such as MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome), where death cases were recorded.
Symptoms of disease caused by new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) include:
• high temperature
• cough
• breathing difficulties
At the moment, it is not clear how easily and sustainably this virus spreads among humans.
Recommendations for passengers
It is recommended to avoid essential travel to Wuhan.
If you have to travel:
• Avoid contacts with sick people
• Avoid animals (live or dead), animal markets and animal origin products
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based cleaner.
• The elderly and persons with basic health problems may be exposed to risk due to severe diseases and should consulth their doctor about travelling to Wuhan.
If you have traveled to Wuhan in the last 14 days and feel unwell, if you have high temperature, if you cough or have breathing difficulties:
• Seek medical care immediately
• Avoid contacts with other people
• Do not travel while you are ill
• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or sleeve (not by hands)
