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Flu outbreak
WHO says border screening doesn't work
Article published on the 2009-04-28 Latest update 2009-04-28 16:12 TU
Passengers from Mexico wear protective masks upon arriving at Madrid's Barajas airport on Tuesday
(Photo: Reuters)
The World Health organisation said on Tuesday that border screenings don't work in detecting passengers infected with the flu virus that has spread from Mexico.
Many countries in Asia set up scanners in airports to screen for fever but WHO spokesperson, Gregory Hartl said that this did not identify cases that are in incubation.
In Mexico, 152 people are believed to have died from the flu virus although only 20 of the deaths have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
Elsewhere in the world, 16 countries are reporting suspected cases while many more are setting up preventative measures.
Israel: two men who were recently in Mexico are confirmed to have contracted the flu virus.
Germany: Two suspected cases are being investigated although a third potential case was negative.
India: Health authorities are trying to locate 500 British tourists who are in Goa after the Indian Health Ministry said that people arriving from Western countries are to be screened.
France: 20 people are under observation after they returned from Mexico, according to French authorities. This is a reduction from the 107 people who, having returned from the Americas, had reported flu-symptoms.
Mozambique: Health officials said on Tuesday that medical teams are at several of the country's ports as part of what was called "active vigilance of people who show signs of illness".
Russia: increased its ban on meat products from the US to include New York and Ohio, after already stopping meat from California, Kansas and Texas. All meat imports from Mexico have been embargoed.
Spain: After reporting the first recorded European case on Monday, Spain on Tuesday confirmed a second case and said 32 more people were suspected of having contracted the virus.
Nigeria: Health Minister Babatunde said Tuesday that the federal government was "fully prepared to contain any outbreak of swine flu" in the country.
South Korea: A woman who had returned from Mexico, on Tuesday became the country's first probable case. This according to the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New Zealand: The government confirmed that three people had caught the flu virus on Tuesday but the number of cases may be as high as 11 and include students recently returned from Mexico.
Austria: The country's first case was reported on Tuesday. The 28-year-old woman is being treated in hospital and had recently returned from Mexico.
Holland: Dutch health authorities said Tuesday it was investigating possible cases and said that travel to Mexico should be avoided.
Thailand: One woman is quaratined in hospital and is undergoing tests for the virus.
