Ahmedabad:Authorities at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here today started screening passengers for Zika virus, after receiving an advisory from the Centre, officials said.

For carrying out the screening, which is aimed at ensuring that Zika virus does not enter India, airport authorities have roped in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which has deployed a doctor and an assistant at the airport, said A K Sharma, director of the airport.

“Following an advisory from the Centre to take all necessary precautions to stop Zika virus from entering into India, we have roped in AMC’s medical team to screen passengers arriving here. A team comprising a doctor and an assistant has started their work from today,” said Sharma.

The medical team will remain at the airport for around 12 hours, mostly during the night. The screening is not compulsory for passengers, he added.

“The team will remain at the airport for 12 hours, starting from evening, as most international flights land here during night or wee hours. Passengers will not be forced to get themselves screened. This team will be here till the alert on Zika virus is in force,” Sharma said.

The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease suspected of causing serious birth defects, has affected countries in the Americas.

On February 2, a day after WHO declared emergency over the “explosive” spread of the virus, the Centre had issued detailed guidelines for combating the disease, including a travel advisory that asked pregnant women to either defer or cancel their travel to the affected areas.

PTI