Swine flu: Air passengers to be screened

Special counters have been set up at nine international airports to screen passengers coming from countries affected by swine flu like Mexico, Canada and the United States.

A total of six counters have been set up near the immigration desks and 32 doctors and eight nurses have been deployed for the check-ups at the counters, a senior health official said on Wednesday.

The counters will start functioning from midnight on Wednesday, he said.

Special access passes have been given to health workers for entry into airports.

At a high-level inter-ministerial meeting held on Tuesday, a decision was taken to screen all passengers who have entered the country in the last 10 days.

The government has identified nine international airports for screening of passengers which include the six metro airports and the airports in Jaipur, Goa and Cochin.