RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has directed all incoming flights to submit a passenger manifest before arrival, as the country ramps up vigilance after the detection of the first mpox case.

After the WHO’s warning regarding the disease on August 14, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) issued a national advisory to adopt preventive measures.

The government had tasked the PCAA to monitor flights arriving from countries where the disease has been reported to be present.

In a directive issued on Sunday, the aviation regulator advised all airlines and ground handling service providers to take preventive measures against mpox.

“All the airlines are directed to ensure submission of [the] passenger manifest in advance for all international arriving flights to the Airport Health Establishment and Airport management at all international airports with immediate effect”.

The document must include the point of origin for all arriving passengers, the PCAA said and directed the airlines to ensure compliance.

The PCAA officials are also likely to hold a meeting with airline representatives on Monday to review the measures taken by the airports to screen the passengers for suspected mpox cases.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the officials to take strict measures to monitor and control the spread of the mpox, which has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO.

During a meeting, PM Shehbaz instructed officials to make screening processes at airports, seaports and borders more effective, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

He directed the NCOC to monitor and review the situation on a daily basis.

The federal and provincial administrations were asked to develop better coordination to curb the disease’s spread and directed them to start an effective and comprehensive awareness campaign.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2024