Background
The Ministry of Health conducted an on-site inspection of port-health procedures at Techo International Airport on 26 May 2026 to review operational measures for preventing the importation of Ebola and other infectious diseases. Ministry recommendations focused on screening processes, on-site sample collection logistics, and targeted sanitation measures that apply to arriving international passengers and airport control points.
Ministry of Health recommendations included dual-stage temperature screening—initial thermal scanning followed by a direct temperature measurement—for passengers arriving from high-risk areas. Passengers identified with a body temperature of 38°C or higher were to be transferred to a designated isolation room for questionnaire completion, symptom assessment, and potential referral for laboratory testing.
Scope of Application
The guidance and inspection outcomes apply to port-health teams, airport medical and screening staff, and associated response units operating at Techo International Airport. The measures specifically target arriving international flights and are intended for passengers from countries or regions assessed as high epidemiological risk for Ebola or other serious infectious diseases.
Key Provisions or Decisions
- Implement dual-stage temperature screening for passengers arriving from high-risk locations: an initial non-contact thermal scan followed by an on-site direct temperature check.
- Establish and maintain handwashing and hygiene stations at all passenger checkpoints within the arrival area.
- Display educational materials for passengers and airport personnel about symptoms and reporting procedures for infectious diseases.
- Designate a secure isolation room for any passenger with a measured temperature of 38°C or above for further clinical assessment and documentation.
- Prepare a secure, pre-identified location and protocols for specimen collection and safe transfer to public health laboratories for testing.
- Apply appropriate environmental disinfection procedures in affected zones according to standard public-health techniques.
Implications for Compliance and Operational Units
Airport operators, airlines, and private medical contractors at the airport are responsible for ensuring the availability and maintenance of thermal scanning equipment and for staffing dual-screening checkpoints when required. Health teams must maintain ready access to designated isolation spaces and coordinate specimen handling protocols with national laboratories to enable timely testing when indicated.
Compliance-related implications include documented screening logs, clear signage and passenger information, and routine sanitation of passenger-flow areas. These operational steps support national border-health surveillance and are part of established port-health functions to limit disease importation via air travel.
Official Source
Ministry of Health Facebook post, 26 May 2026: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/posts/pfbid0wecfjuQPoeoqGgqViU819PhPWqwL3oQmAhdNgs2TH9RotagCErPhSuExQqwY2Uail
