Thailand Tightens Hantavirus Screening For Travelers From South America

Bangkok: Thailand has launched intensive screening measures for hantavirus among travelers arriving from South America, aiming to bolster public confidence and ensure safe international tourism, the Department of Disease Control said on Tuesday.

While Thailand has reported no cases of hantavirus to date, the department said it has implemented a mandatory screening process for individuals who have traveled to 13 South American countries within the last six weeks.

Travelers from these risk areas must report to disease control officers to provide a detailed medical history via a health declaration form before proceeding through immigration, said Montien Kanasawadse, director-general of the department.

All 74 international entry points across the Southeast Asian country have been directed to tighten environmental sanitation and vector control, with particular emphasis placed on cruise ships and international transport vehicles, Montien noted.

As of May 9, authorities had screened a total of 470 travelers from South America, averaging 157 arrivals per day, with Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport serving as the primary hub for these arrivals, he added.

The department urged all citizens and visitors returning from high-risk areas to seek immediate medical attention if they develop high fevers or respiratory distress, especially following contact with rodents.

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