I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali has reactivated its network of thermal scanners to screen arriving and departing passengers for “superflu,” technically identified as influenza A (H3N2) subclade K.
The airport management confirmed that the deployment of these devices is a preemptive measure intended to identify individuals displaying elevated body temperatures, a primary indicator of the virus.
General Manager Nugroho Jati stated that the airport currently operates approximately 25 thermal scanning units.
These devices, originally installed during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been positioned along major international and domestic routes to ensure comprehensive coverage.
The scanners allow health officials to monitor the flow of passengers without causing significant delays to terminal operations.
“Because I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport is an international gateway with a significant number of users, I believe the symptoms we’ve studied and obtained are more or less similar to those of someone with the flu, but there may be symptoms, so detection will be more obvious when the body temperature is high,” said Nugroho, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Health Screening Intensifies at Bali Airport Following Rise in H3N2 Subclade K Cases
The decision to intensify screening follows data released by the Ministry of Health, which indicated a rise in infections across Indonesia.
By the end of December 2025, health officials recorded 62 confirmed cases of the H3N2 subclade K variant across eight provinces.
The highest concentrations of the virus were reported in East Java, South Kalimantan, and West Java.
While Bali has not yet reported a surge, its status as a primary transport hub necessitated the early introduction of screening protocols.
The airport currently serves an average of 66,000 passengers per day. Management confirmed that the scanners are functioning normally and that the facility is prepared to isolate any traveller found to be symptomatic.
The airport is working in direct partnership with the Indonesian Quarantine Agency and the Indonesian Port Health Office (KKP) to monitor the situation. These agencies are responsible for the secondary screening and medical referral of any passenger flagged by the thermal units.
The current focus remains on early detection and the rapid separation of febrile passengers from the general population to prevent local transmission.
“For the time being, we are coordinating with the Indonesian Quarantine Agency and the Indonesian Port Health Office. The status is still low and is simply a reminder to remain vigilant; no specific protocols have been implemented yet,” Nugroho concluded.
Medical personnel and treatment facilities remain on standby should the Ministry of Health raise the provincial alert level.
