New Delhi: The Union government has asked all airlines to sanitise aircraft coming from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-affected nations following concerns over possible spread of the virus in the country.

Health forms have also been provided to airlines and in the immigration areas at airports to be filled in by all the passengers disembarking in the country to screen symptoms of SARS, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shripad Yesso Naik informed the Lok Sabha on April 21.

As per the contingency plan, all the suspected cases would be transported to the designated local hospitals for examination and treatment. Masks have also been provided to the immigration staff at all the five major airports, he said replying to a question about steps taken by the government.

Director, General Health Services, has positioned teams of doctors at health counters set up at 12 international and nine Customs airports in the country, Naik said.

Instructions have been issued in consultation with the Ministries of Health and Home Affairs to sanitise all aircraft coming from the virus-affected countries, he added.

PTI