GOVT EXERCISES MORE CAUTIONS ON SPREAD OF SWINE FLUE

Makassar, Apr 27 (ANTARA) - The government had reportedly exercised more cautions over the health facility and port health offices (KKP) to anticipate the spread of swine flu in Mexico and the United States in March this year.

"KKP has been asked to enhance their alertness and for that purpose a second circular has been sent to KKP office," Director General for Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Affairs of the Health Ministry Tjandra Yoga Aditama said on the sideline of a simulation on the handling of pandemic influenza at the Makassar port, here, on Sunday.
The effort to exercise more cautions over the spread of H1N1 swine virus was taken following the statement of WHO Director General Margaret Chan who confirmed swine flu as public health emergency of international concern on the basis of inputs from the emergency committee.
However, Tjandra said, the government has yet to issue a warning or travel ban for Indonesians from visiting swine flu-attacked countries.
"WHO has yet to recommend specific action to be carried out, including travel warning and travel ban. We can wait for the recommendation and learn further development of this disease," he said.
The government, in response to this disease, tightened their control of possible movement of the people at the port by operating thermoscanner that could net passengers who are suffering from swine virus-affected fever.