BRITISH holidaymakers suspected of suffering from swine flu are being stopped from boarding flights.
Check-in staff at Heathrow and other main British airports are vetting passengers for possible symptoms and turning away those suspected of being infected. Some countries, including Thailand, Egypt and China have installed thermal body scanners to identify passengers with fever.
More than 50 British children and teachers were yesterday under quarantine in Beijing after four of the children were diagnosed with swine flu. It also emerged this weekend that: Hospitals face a potential crisis over the limited number of intensive care beds. Under the worst-case scenario, seriously ill patients could have to make way for swine flu victims. The manufacturers of the new swine flu vaccine are to be given legal indemnity amid concerns over any side effects. Regulators are due to fast-track its approval. Some patients – whatever their illness – face waits of up to 11 hours before getting a call back from weekend and evening GPs’ services. Calls are running at double the normal rate. Security guards are to protect NHS supplies of Tamiflu when the drug is handed out at temporary distribution centres, such as community buildings.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic confirmed this weekend that its staff were not allowing suspected sufferers to travel. A BA spokesman said some passengers had already been turned away at check-in because they showed symptoms of infection
“Our staff are trained on what to look out for if someone has swine flu or any other communicable disease,” said the spokesman. “The staff seek medical advice and anyone with swine flu would be advised they are unfit to travel.”
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said check-in staff would call in a medical team for advice if passengers were showing possible signs, such as coughing or excessive sneezing. “We would be advised by our medical experts. But advice for anyone with swine flu is that they should not travel and wait until they recover,” said a spokesman. The Association of British Insurers said cancelled holidays or postponed flights would normally be covered under insurance policies. Passengers are advised to check airline websites for advice.
Passengers who are suffering from swine flu but are not spotted at check-in may find themselves quarantined on their arrival overseas.
The group of 52 children and teachers were put in quarantine in China after four pupils were diagnosed with swine flu on arrival in the country on Tuesday. The trip was organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and involves schoolchildren from around the country.
Sulaimon Prince, 14, a pupil at the Central Foundation boys’ school, east London, is one of the four who tested positive and is recovering in Ditan hospital, Beijing. He said yesterday: “We were taken to hospital by ambulance. My temperature has come down. I’m not feeling ill so I think everything is okay.”
The party has been quarantined with American children in the Yanxiang hotel, a four-star hotel in Beijing. More than 200 foreigners are in quarantine.
The Department of Health said yesterday that Britain would get sufficient swine flu vaccine and it would indemnify drug manufacturers if there were any serious side effects from the vaccine.
Doctors are also worried about the demand for intensive-care beds. In the worst case scenario, flu victims in need of intensive care could outnumber the available beds. There are only 3,636 such beds in England.
Source:The times
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