Doha, Qatar, July 11, 2006-- Antiseptic carpets, or carpets that are billed as being able to kill the avian flu virus, are scheduled for installation in the arrival lounge of the Doha International Airport, according to a report in a local Arabic daily, the Gulf Times.
The report said the carpets will help eliminate any virus that may stick to the shoes of passengers coming from bird flu-affected countries.
The administration of the Doha International Airport and the Husbandry Department at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture have started preparations in this regard, the daily quoted sources as saying.
The paper said that the carpet is being selected according to some unique specifications while the Husbandry Department has offered quantities of antiseptic materials to be used from August 1. The date coincides with the return of many a holiday makers from abroad.
“Incoming passengers will be asked to step on to the medicated carpet and stand on it for some seconds.”
This move, initiated by Dr Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, director of research and agriculture development, was studied by the National Bird Flu Monitoring Committee.
Dr Usri Radwan, expert at the National Health Authority said usual precautionary measures are in force in Qatar and workers coming from bird flu affected countries are closely monitored for symptoms like fever and cough.
Dr Radwan said the ideal step would be to quarantine workers coming from disease-affected regions for a period of 10 days.
