Nepal keeps high alert on influenza A/H1N1

Source: Xinhua | 05-02-2009 16:55

KATHMANDU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government is on high alert to check possible outbreaks of the A/H1N1 virus, local newspaper The Rising Nepal reported Saturday.

Dr. Senendra Raj Upreti, Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, forewarned that the country would have to bear a great loss if the flu outbreak entered into Nepal.

Presenting a working paper on government's efforts to control the outbreak of the deadly disease at a press meet on Friday, Dr. Upreti informed that the concerned authorities had decided to screen visitors from the United States and Mexico.

He said that the government had deployed a team of health professionals at the Tribhuvan International Airport in capital Kathmandu, the only international airport in the country, with health-related questionnaires.

"They will inquire those coming to Nepal from or via Mexico and the US and take immediate action if anyone is suspected to have contracted the flu," he said.

He said that they had issued alerts to health professionals and surveillance teams across the country to strengthen hospitals to give special treatment to patients with the symptoms of the disease. The committee has also instructed the Rapid Response Team(RRT) of all 75 districts to be vigilant, he said.