Swine flu screening stepped up at Indian airports

Delhi International Airport has given special passes to health workers, to enter the airport, in order to enhance surveillance against any entry of swine flu in the Capital.“The Ministry of Civil Aviation will direct the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to issue instructions on all the requirements of the health ministry to concerned airports and also coordinate with private airports wherever required,” a senior official said.

The government has ordered nine international airports to undergo screening of passengers, which include the six metro airports and the airports in Jaipur, Goa and Cochin.

“It was a review meeting to discuss the preparatory measures being taken by the government in the wake of the spread of swine flu in various countries,” a health ministry official said.

On April 27, 2009, India has urged its passengers to avoid leisure and non-essential travels to swine-flu affected place like New Zealand, Mexico, the US, Canada, Spain, France and Britain, and had put in place a scanning system for travelers coming from these countries.

A 24/7 service from doctors is recommended by the health ministry in the airports to scan and check passengers coming from these countries.

A round-the-clock call centre with a toll-free number (1075) and another number (23921401), under the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Project, has been provided so people can report any influenza-like illness.

The WHO (World Health Organization) has also raised the alert from three to four and is short of declaring swine flu a full pandemic. A level four alert means that the virus is communicative and can be transferred from human to human.

According to the health minister, no cases of swine flu have yet been recorded in India.
Swine flu has killed more than 150 people in Mexico.

The government of Cuba has suspended flights to and from Mexico for 48 hours.
Lufthansa has reported an increase in passenger cancellations for flights in Mexico.

Venezuela, Russia and Guatemala have warned their citizens against traveling to Mexico and the United States.

Japan is imposing strict screening procedures for travelers from North America and Mexico.

In the US, unions representing flight attendants have asked US federal agencies to put into practice passenger screening standards, and provide respirators, gloves and hand-sanitisers to security personnel.