Asia on alert over Mexican flu threat
HONG KONG: Asian health officials went on alert and urged the public
to be vigilant Sunday amid the threat of a flu strain that has killed up
to 81 people in Mexico and sparked warnings of a potential pandemic.
Governments across the region, which has in recent years been at the
forefront of the SARS and bird flu epidemics, urged the public, and
especially travellers, to be on guard for symptoms of the new
multi-strain of swine fever.
In New Zealand, a 25-strong school group was quarantined pending the
results of medical tests after returning from Mexico with flu-like
symptoms, local health authorities said. Results were expected later
Sunday.
In Japan, airports tightened checks on passengers arriving from
Mexico, with quarantine officials giving out face masks and using
thermography imaging cameras to screen for passengers with a fever.
Health officials handed out leaflets to those headed for Mexico and
the United States, urging them to wear face masks and wash their hands
regularly to prevent infection from the new multi-strain swine flu.
Sunday, AFP |