Swine flu spreads, India falters | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Swine flu spreads, India falters

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi/ Mumbai
Apr 29, 2009 01:27 AM IST

Within 24 hours, the swine flu death toll in Mexico climbed to 152, putting Indian holiday plans in jeopardy and forcing many frequent fliers to choose conference calls over business travel. Though an advisory has been issued, a reality check of the Govt’s contingency plan showed that nothing is in place at Delhi and Mumbai airports that get the maximum flights from affected countries, reports Sanchita Sharma. World takes measuresPandemic looms large

Within 24 hours, the swine flu death toll in Mexico climbed to 152, putting Indian holiday plans in jeopardy and forcing many frequent fliers to choose conference calls over business travel.

HT Image
HT Image

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has not advised restrictions on food (eating pork) or international travel, it has asked all people with flu symptoms travelling through affected countries (see box) to get tested and treated.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Swine flu symptoms include fever, lack of appetite, cough, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

The advisories are expected to affect outbound travel to Europe and US.

“Governments have started issuing advisories and travellers are being asked to take adequate precautions. There could be an estimated 20 per cent fall in overseas travel if infection spreads across continents,” said H.K. Singh, general secretary, Travel Agents Association of India.

Though an advisory has been issued in India, a reality check of the government’s contingency plan showed that nothing is in place at Delhi and Mumbai airports that get the maximum flights from affected countries.

On Monday afternoon, the health ministry announced its travel advisory.

Airport authorities in Delhi were asked to put up health counters late on Tuesday evening. "We haven't got a notification from the health ministry on steps to be taken. We did get a call asking us to set up eight special counters to screen passengers on flights from Mexico, US and Canada from Tuesday midnight," said a Delhi International Airports Limited spokesman.

The health ministry had announced they would assign 32 health officials to Delhi airport and a similar number to Mumbai, who would work in four shifts in groups of eight.

Airlines, however, have still not been informed. "Usually travel advisories are issued by the WHO, but we have not heard from them or the Indian government," the Air India spokesperson told HT.

The situation is no better at Chhattrapati Shivaji International Airport, with the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) being asked to provide only three counters at the country's busiest airport. "We have been asked to provide facilities by Wednesday noon. They may start screening in the afternoon," said an MIAL spokesperson.

Checking every passenger for symptoms could result in delays and long queues at immigration, fear airport officials. "These counters are located before the immigration counters. It could cause chaos," said an airport official requesting anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

With Samiran Saha in New Delhi and Soubhik Mitra in Mumbai.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Sanchita is the health & science editor of the Hindustan Times. She has been reporting and writing on public health policy, health and nutrition for close to two decades. She is an International Reporting Project fellow from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and was part of the expert group that drafted the Press Council of India’s media guidelines on health reporting, including reporting on people living with HIV.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On