Source: CARNOC.com Author: Simon Li 05/16/2009
Subject Concerned: Government Airport
As swine flu (also known as "Influenza A/H1N1") continues to witness a growing number of confirmed cases worldwide, some countries have called on those worst-hit nations to implement appropriate exit screening measures at its borders, especially at major gateway airports, to help prevent the disease from spreading to more places.
Recently, Hong Kong's Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow wrote to U.S. health authorities informing them of the Special Administrative Region's second confirmed case of Influenza A/H1N1 as well as to ask the U.S. government to consider implementing exit screening measures, particularly at international airports.
Similarly, Malaysia's Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai told state media that the country is now actively pushing for the World Health Organization (WHO) to get affected countries to implement exit screening in order to stop the spread of the disease amid concerns that a second wave of the swine flu could be much deadlier.
While the WHO is currently still not recommending travel restrictions related to the swine flu outbreak but the international health body has urged individuals who feel ill to delay their travel plans and returning travelers who become ill to seek appropriate medical care in a timely manner.
Over the past few days, a number of countries have updated their official travel advisories informing its citizens that it may be a wise idea to postpone all non-essential travel to hard-hit regions such as the U.S., Mexico and Canada as well as some European countries.
According to the latest statistics released by the WHO, as of 06:00 (GMT) on May 15, 2009, 34 countries have officially reported 7,520 cases of Influenza A/H1N1 infection. The U.S. has reported 4,298 laboratory confirmed human cases including three deaths while Mexico has so far reported 2,446 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection with 60 deaths. Canada and Costa Rica have reported one death each.