India has told international passengers to declare their “state of health” before seeking immigration clearance in view of the swine flu.
India has told international passengers to declare their “state of health” before seeking immigration clearance in view of the swine flu.
But a day after the health ministry issued guidelines for airlines and airport operators to screen passengers, airports struggled to put a system in place. The health ministry, busy with meetings on the state of preparedness, said specially trained doctors and paramedical staff will be posted at airports to begin proper screening by Wednesday.
Travellers from the US, Canada and Mexico are being questioned by at airports and seaports, health ministry sources said.
Special forms will be available in a few days, but now passengers have to fill up health details in immigration forms. “Passengers are being asked details of their travel to infected countries, and contact with people of such countries,” a senior aviation ministry official said.
“We ask passengers if they have flu symptoms. We make our assessment about their health. Passengers are well aware about the flu and are inquiring about steps they need to take while in India,” an immigration official at New Delhi airport said.
Immigration and civil aviation authorities have been told to make special arrangements at nine international airports. Momentum is yet to gather on the health ministry’s guidelines to track down international passengers from swine flu-hit countries. Airport operators requested passengers to seek help immediately if they feel “unwell” or “feverish”.
World health officials said they were unable to halt the spread of the flu and ratcheted up their pandemic alert level as the number of affected countries rose sharply. Mexico, epicentre of the outbreak, said 152 people died from the virus, and the number of known cases in the US more than doubled.
Keiji Fukuda, acting World Health Organisation assistant director-general for health, security and the environment, said given the widespread nature of the virus, all corners of the world are at potential risk.
Ranjan Dasgupta adds from Pune: The Maharashtra animal husbandry will conduct medical checks at piggeries. Additional commissioner of the state animal husbandry department Vasant Ramteke told DNA an examination of animals, including those found on roads, would be carried out by veterinary staff. Ramteke said no case has been detected in India.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}