| Submit your comments on this article |
| Down Under |
| Airport turns on thermal scanners to detect Swine Flu |
| 2009-04-30 |
| THERMAL scanners will begin screening international travellers at airports around Australia from today as the Government ramps up its defences against swine flu. Mandatory health declarations will also be required from all passengers entering Australia, Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says. The new measures are based on updated advice from Australia's chief medical officer Jim Bishop. "The chief medical officer is now of the view that it's necessary to strengthen the identification and management of potentially affected travellers because of the increasing threat from swine flu across the world,'' Ms Roxon said. "From this afternoon the thermal scanners will be turned on progressively in all international airports and I'm advised that it will be fully operational by around 6pm tonight.'' The scanners will operate at Australia's eight international airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. Ms Roxon warned passengers to expect delays. "We believe that this is a sensible precautionary measure to be taking and obviously it's a public health issue of great concern, so we do believe that the inconvenience will be worthwhile in helping add to the protection of this country from swine flu.'' The number of Australians being tested for swine flu is 114 as of 12pm (AEST) today. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #1 Now THAT is a damn good idea to implement last week, you're a bit late. But you should be checking IN MEXICO at boarding. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-04-30 20:31 |