Mexican Airport Monitors H1N1 Flu Virus

Mexico, with almost 200 deaths so far, has been the hardest hit among the 12 countries currently reporting cases of the H1N1 flu virus.



Thermographic cameras are being used in Mexico Citys International airport to monitor passengers who may have contracted the virus.


[Juan Molinar, Mexican Transport Minister]:
"We bought thermal cameras. These cameras, that I'm sure you've seen which can measure with precision, the body temperature of passengers at a distance or even when they are moving. What this allows us is to do a very efficient inspection of the body temperature of these passengers. And in the cases that we find with high temperatures, we direct them to an area where we will give them medical attention."



Mexicos beaches, ancient pyramids and quaint colonial towns normally attract millions of travelers each year. But right now, many visitors are exiting the country fast as the United States, Canada and many other countries have advised against travel to Mexico.



European Union ministers agreed on Thursday that individual member states should decide on any travel curbs aimed at stopping the spread of swine flu.



[Juan Molinar, Mexican Transport Minister]:
"The European Union has decided to maintain air communication with Mexico. They are revising the mechanism of coordination to maintain the highest standards of health security for air transportation.



The World Health Organization (WHO) says it will no longer refer to the H1N1 virus as "swine flu" to take some pressure of meat producers, but it will keep the current alert level at one notch below full pandemic.



Meanwhile, Mexican President Felipe Calderon told government offices and private businesses, not crucial to the economy, to stop work starting today to avoid further spreading of the virus.



All schools, restaurants, nightclubs and public events have been shut down in Mexico City to prevent the disease from spreading among the population of 20 million.



[Jacqueline Escalante, Mexico City Resident]:
"All the adults, or people like me who have small children, we are worried because we can't easily maintain our rhythm of life as we are worried about schools, work, and many other things. It is a little difficult to understand what we have to change about our habits because unfortunately we don't have a culture of personal hygiene."



Flu epidemics generally last a few weeks or months in any single community, and can pass around the world in one or two waves over an 18 to 24 month period before fading out.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ntd
• NTDTV
• Mexico
• H1N1
• Mexican
• Airport
• flu
• virus
• Thermographic
• cameras
• health
• security
• WHO

[benzzite]

influenza .....ss claro