Phnom Penh - Cambodia began scanning passengers for fever at
its two international airports Tuesday to stem the spread of swine
flu.
Staff at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports began screening
passengers with thermal-imaging equipment Tuesday afternoon, said Ly
Sovann, deputy director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at
the Health Ministry.
Phnom Penh airport police commander Chor Kimly said health
authorities used the same equipment during regional outbreaks of
avian flu, which has killed seven Cambodians since 2003.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Ministry said
there were no reported cases of the potentially deadly viral
infection in the country.
A WHO and Health Ministry joint statement said Cambodia had a
'pandemic response plan' and was equipped to manage a swine-flu
outbreak.
'Cambodia has increased its surveillance for unusual respiratory
illnesses in hospitals, health centres and airports,' the statement
said. 'Cambodia has prepared stockpiles of various resources,
including medication to treat viral infections, and has access to
additional regional supplies if required.'
There are no direct commercial air routes to Cambodia from
Mexico, the United States, Spain or any other swine-flu-affected
countries, but dozens of flights arrive daily from Thailand, Vietnam,
China, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore.
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