Asia takes precautions after swine flu outbreak

TOKYO – Some Asian nations enforced checks yesterday on passengers and pork products from Mexico amid fears that its deadly outbreak of swine flu might spread to a continent that has battled hard to contain bird flu.

Japan’s biggest international airport stepped up health surveillance, while the Philippines said it may quarantine passengers with fevers who have been to Mexico. Health authorities in Thailand and Hong Kong said they were closely monitoring the situation.

In Mexico, at least 62 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness, the World Health Organization said.

Some of those deaths have been confirmed as a type of swine flu – labeled A/H1N1 – not previously seen in pigs or humans.

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At Tokyo’s Narita airport – among the world’s busiest with more than 96,000 people using it daily – officials installed a device at the arrival gate for flights from Mexico to measure the temperatures of passengers.

“We are increasing health surveillance following the outbreak of swine flu,” said Akira Yukitoki, an official at the airport’s quarantine station. He said more than 160 passengers arriving from Mexico yesterday were screened by the thermographic machine. No one complained of fever or severe coughing.

The airport also plans to put up special signs for passengers going to Mexico, urging them to “wear masks, wash hands and gargle,” Yukitoki said. – AP