Delhi steps up vigil against swine flu

New Delhi: A day after WHO declared swine flu a pandemic that’s spreading across the globe, the Union health ministry decided to install thermal scanners on an experimental basis at the IGI airport in Delhi, where five of the 16 cases in India have been reported. Thermal scanners help identify passengers running a fever and check import of the infection into the country.
If the scanners are found to be effective, they will be put up at other big airports in the country as well, ministry officials said. The Delhi government too moved quickly on Friday, constituting nine rapid response teams and designating 11 state hospitals as treatment centres to effectively handle new H1N1 influenza cases in the capital.
Meanwhile, the reputed industrialist who had contracted swine flu and passed it on to his mother, was shifted back to a hospital. Delhi health officials had a harrowing time convincing the duo to return to hospital after slipping away from an isolation ward.
‘‘They were finally admitted to Airport Health Organisation hospital at the Delhi Airport. We can’t leave infected people at their homes. We have invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, under which no H1N1 infected person can stay at home,’’ said J P Singh, principal secretary (health), Delhi government.
The Union health ministry had so far been reluctant to procure thermal scanners as they were doubtful about their efficacy. But with the number of cases in the country rising, the ministry feels better screening of overseas visitors is needed to minimize the spread of the infection here.
13/06/09 Risha Chitlangia/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009