Kazakhstani airports introduce temperature screening

Airports in Kazakhstan are going to introduce temperature checks for passengers once again in an attempt to prevent the deadly Marburg virus from spreading within the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus is highly contagious and has the mortality rate of 88%. Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare has issued a list of recommendations for citizens staying in the affected countries.

«Sanitary and quarantine control has been established at the international airports to prevent the virus from entering the country. Every passenger arriving in Kazakhstan is subjected to contactless thermometry screening,» said Sarkhat Beisenova, chief state sanitary doctor of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstanis are advised to avoid eating undercooked meat, coming into contact with infected individuals and visiting caves inhabited by bats, which are natural virus carriers.

«Citizens even with mild symptoms must attend the closest medical facility. Symptoms can appear as early as two days after infection or as late as 21 days,» the Ministry of Healthcare explained.

The disease affects both animals and humans. The virus is naturally found in bats and can be transmitted to humans.

«Marburg virus is the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but can be much lower with good patient care. Marburg virus disease was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany,» the WHO said in a statement.

The virus is primarily spread in the regions of South, West and Central Africa. Neither vaccine nor medical treatment for the disease have been developed yet.

In 2008, Ugandan authorities registered two epidemiologically independent cases of infection in the caves inhabited by the bat colonies.

«Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. Severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting can begin on the third day,» the WHO explained in a statement.

In August, WHO declared monkeypox a global emergency following an infection outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.