The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Swine flu: airport on high alert

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Saturday, Jun 13, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Swine flu: airport on high alert

Staff Reporter

Six screening counters; team of 10 doctors check 2,800 patients daily

Passengers to furnish address, phone numbers
Ear thermometers help determine body temperature

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

CAUTION FIRST: A pharmacist displays protective masks against swine flu being made available at the Chest Hospital in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), the only gateway for swine flu into Hyderabad, went into a high state of alert with swine flu being declared as ‘pandemic.’ Every incoming international passenger is being screened for symptoms of A (H1N1) virus.

The six screening counters manned by a team of ten doctors and ten nurses check nearly 2,800 passengers everyday who land in Hyderabad from various destinations in 17 international flights most of which arrive in the night or early morning.

Medical teams have been using ear thermometers to check the temperature of every passenger.

It is also mandatory for every passenger to furnish their addresses and telephone numbers so that they can be reached again for conduct of any further tests.

Throat swabs

Dr. K. N. Reddy, Chief Medical Officer, who is coordinating work at screening counters said the ear thermometers help the doctors determine the temperature of the passengers.

“The ear thermometers are helpful as they do not give scope for transmission of any infection.”

If anyone is found to be having above normal temperature, then the passenger is screened for the symptoms.

Nasal and throat swabs are being collected if the symptoms are found and the passenger would be sent to Chest Hospital in Erragadda.

Based on the reports from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, further treatment is given to passengers at the hospital, the Chief Medical Officer explained.

In case, there was anyone who tested positive for the virus, passengers sitting in the three rows in front back of the same aircraft would also be given specific treatment at district hospitals are at their homes.

Information, including address and telephone numbers of passengers is sent to all the District Hospitals in the State to trace out the passengers.

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