Swine flu: Birmingham International Airport on standby

Apr 27 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

DOCTORS and nurses are on standby for holidaymakers who may have deadly swine flu when they arrive back in Birmingham from Mexico tomorrow.

Medics at Birmingham International Airport have been briefed ahead of the arrival of the Thomson flight from Cancun.

Passengers may be questioned over their health with nursing staff ready to offer help to anyone who has been feeling unwell on the flight.

It will be the first Midland flight to arrive back from the central American country since the rapid outbreak of the deadly disease.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said Britain was now on “constant alert” and the West Midlands Health Protection Agency (HPA) said airport based health staff had fully briefed.

When a flight from Mexico City landed at London’s Heathrow Airport, health officials wearing face masks boarded the jet.

Passengers were held on their plane for 45 minutes while masked health officials asked questions and checked them for signs of the virus.

Dr Derek Ward, a consultant in communicable disease control with the West Midlands HPA, said: “There are no specific plans to approach it in the same way as London Heathrow.

“However, the response could and may have to change very quickly. This is a very fast moving situation and things could change over the coming day or days.

“Doctors and nurses at Birmingham Airport have been briefed and other airport staff will be briefed later today.

“The medical staff will be available if anybody is feeling unwell on the flight.

“Our real worry is that people will develop symptoms a few days down the line.

“We are asking travellers from Mexico, or those coming into Birmingham from Mexico via connecting European destinations to monitor their own health carefully over the next seven days.

“GPs are also on alert.”