Swine flu screening stepped up at Delhi airport

Screening of passengers for the swine flu virus has been stepped up at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi following the World Health Organisation declared the influenza a pandemic.

Screening of passengers for the swine flu virus has been stepped up at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi following the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the influenza a pandemic.

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"The screening is being done on passengers arriving at the international terminal round-the-clock. Passengers coming by international flights are requested to report at the health desk for thorough screening," Arun Arora, a spokesperson for the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the developer of the IGI airport, said on Friday.

WHO Thursday raised its alert against influenza A (H1N1) - commonly known as swine flu - to the highest Phase 6 and declared it a pandemic.

India has so far reported 16 cases of the flu, including a fresh case in Hyderabad Friday. According to WHO, 74 countries have reported 28,774 cases of H1N1 infection, including 144 deaths.

Arora said advanced life saving ambulances were available with paramedics round-the-clock at the airport.

"Eight counters have been set up at the airport for medical screening with each counter being manned by one doctor and two nurses," said another official.

The government has also stepped up surveillance at all major airports in the country after the WHO alert, he said.