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Asia on High Alert for Swine Influenza
Hong Kong, Sunday - After swine influenza cases were found in Mexico, United States of America, and New Zealand, Asia in now on “High Alert”. Asia, which in previous years has “warred” against SARS and avian influenza outbreaks, has now put all of its airports and border checkpoints on standby. The swine influenza outbreak is believed to be able to spread to other parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) reminds that this swine influenza virus has high potential to create a pandemic. WHO considers this case as a “public health emergency” that constitutes international concern.
So far, the virus has been reported to spread to New Zealand, United States of America, Israel, and France. Air transportation is suspected to be the cause of fast disease transmission to those countries. Therefore, the only way to prevent it is by opening health inspection points in airports.
In Japan, for instance, the international airport has intensified surveillance on all passengers coming from Mexico. Quarantine officers are also giving out masks to cover the nose and mouth and also scan the body heat of passengers to detect possible flu symptoms or fever. “We must prevent this flu before it’s too late,” said Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, to reporters.
Agriculture Minister Shigeru Ishiba has advised the public to stay calm and not panic. There is nothing to be worried about. Especially since Japan has stock of Tamiflu that according to Ishiba is very effective. “Our stock of Tamiflu is very much enough,” said Ishiba.
Stop meat import
South Korea and Taiwan are also adopting the same policy. All passengers coming from swine flu infected countries must go through health inspection posts. The South Korean government has even ordered quarantine for pork imported from Mexico and the US. Russia is even sterner; the government has banned meat import from Mexico, several states in the US, and nine South American countries.
Prevention by intensifying health inspection posts in airports is also done in China. Public Health Minister of Thailand, Witthaya Kaewparadai, advised the Thailand people to take precautions when traveling to the US and Mexico.
According to WHO, the virus will reach phase 4 [in the pandemic chart] of it could transmit from human to human. If the virus is found in at least two countries in one WHO region, it means it has reached phase 5. Phase 6 indicates a global pandemic. (REUTERS/AFP/AP/LUK)
Source : Kompas