Swine flu: Contacts of Birmingham passenger given anti-flu drugs
HPA medics were on hand at Birmingham International Airport yesterday to screen passengers arriving back to the city from Cancun in Mexico, the country where the disease is feared to have originated.
About 200 holidaymakers from across Britain flew back to the UK via Birmingham yesterday morning. All were given leaflets and any who said they felt unwell were offered checks by the HPA.
The spokesman added that it could not say how many, if any, travellers complained of feeling unwell.
Passengers said they also underwent health checks before leaving Mexico.
“They took our temperatures at the airport in Cancun before we got on the plane and we were asked to fill in a form with our names and addresses,” said Stephanie Mildren, aged 32, of Swindon.
“The plane seems the most likely place to catch it and there was at least one woman who was wearing a face mask.
“When we landed we were given a leaflet advising us to be vigilant and to contact our GP if we felt unwell.”
The rise in cases was announced yesterday as a nationwide leaflet campaign began to deliver information about the disease to every household in the UK.
The information leaflet suggests ways in which people can reduce their chances of catching swine flu and gives advice on what they should do if they develop symptoms.
A total of five schools have now been closed in London amid fears that the bug could take hold in children.
