Fever reducers get passengers past airport scanners
16 JUN 2009: Passengers arriving at Ho Chi Minh City in southern
Vietnam took fever reducers to cheat temperature scanners at the
airport. The state media reported at the weekend that a “series” of
sick passengers took the medication three hours before arrival. The
ruse was uncovered when several infected cases were later discovered
Nguyen Van Chau, head of Ho Chi Minh City's Health Department, was quoted in state-run Tien Phong (Vanguard) daily as saying, "That's why when they passed through the airport, the body temperature scanners skipped them.”
Vietnam has confirmed 26 people infected with H1N1 flu, 23 of whom came by air after travelling in the US or Australia.
Three others became ill after coming in contact with the infected travellers.
Vietnam requires inbound passengers found with fever to be isolated for seven days.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared an influenza pandemic and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus.
The H1N1 strain has spread widely, with 28,774 infections confirmed in 74 countries to date, including 144 deaths, according to the WHO's latest tally.
No deaths from the flu have been reported in Vietnam.
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