Swine flu: All airports to screen passengers from tomorrow

With the swine flu virus, renamed as the H1N1 virus, spreading to more countries across the globe, the Government today said passengers from the affected countries were being screened earnestly and by tomorrow the process would begin at all airports of the country.  

A total of 2,000 passengers, who have come in from the affected countries, have already been tracked and are being kept under watch, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health Vineet Chaudhary told reporters here today.  Screening has started at 10 airports and by tomorrow all airports would begin screening passengers, he said, adding 96 doctors have been deployed for the purpose. 

 While Delhi has the largest number of 8 screening counters, Trichy has the least that is only one.The Centre has decentralised its stockpile of Oseltamivir, the drug which is most effective against the virus and Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) for the health workers.  

Katoch said the H1N1 virus was actually a combination of three viruses namely Avian, Swine and Human.  "The cause for worry is that it can be transmitted human to human," he said.  

Chaudhary said no samples have as of now been picked up for checking in India apart from that of the Hyderabad resident.He cautioned against culling of pigs as the virus was not transmitted through eating pork.

Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) V N Katoch said the Indian strategy for containment of the disease was very similar to that of the United States-- the country which has reported the least mortality due to the disease.  

Asked if the searing heat can be a factor in stopping the transmission of the disease, he said, though it can kill the virus outdoors, the germs will survive in closed spaces like planes, residences and offices.