Dubai to screen passengers on China flights after virus outbreak
Wuhan to Hangzhou
Dubaiwillscreenpassengersarriving on directflightsfromChina, the airport operator said on Thursday, as health authorities around the world scramble to prevent a global pandemic.
A new coronavirusthat first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan has killed 17 and infected nearly 600, most inChinabut cases have been detected as far away as the United States.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese will travel at home and abroad during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday which begins on Saturday.
Allpassengersarriving atDubaiInternational on directflightsfromChina"must receive thermalscreening at the gate upon arrival and be provided with information leaflets,"DubaiAirports said.Passengerswill be checked in secured gates.
DubaiInternational is the world's third busiest airport and a major international transit hub. It is the base of a major airline Emirates.
Thousands of Chinese travelers are expected to pass throughDubaiairport for the Lunar New Year weekend, the operator said.
The United States, Australia, Britain, and several other countries have introducedscreening measures at major airports.
Chinais putting Wuhan, a city of 11 million people considered the epicenter of theoutbreak, on lockdown.
A flight from the city is scheduled to arrive inDubaion Sunday, flight booking websites showed.