Fed: Rudd govt too slow in response to pig-flu pandemic=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2009
Fed: Rudd govt too slow in response to pig-flu pandemic=2

Airports were not officially on alert but were aware of the situation, a spokeswoman
for the health department said.

Senator Brown said the airports should be on alert for people coming into Australia
from the Americas.

"The public needs to be assured that there is a very high alert at all ports for people
coming into Australia, particularly from the Americas," he said.

More than 1,300 people in Mexico, Texas, California, Kansas and New York are infected
and it's feared a flight attendant may have taken the flu to britain.

A British Airways cabin crew staff member is being treated in a London hospital with
"flu-like symptoms" after arriving on a flight from Mexico City, British health officials
say.

Senator Brown said it was inevitable swine flu would hit Australia.

"The only way of not having that would be to close Australia to flights," he said.

"We should also be looking to see how we can help neighbouring countries if it does
become a pandemic."

Hong Kong was considering putting travellers through heat sensors to check for raised
temperatures, Senator Brown said.

Australia had stockpiles of two drugs - oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza)
- which may be sensitive to swine flu, he said.

AAP mj/ss/bwl/cdh

KEYWORD: MED FLU AUST UPDATE 2 CANBERRA

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