Prague airport offers check-ups to stop spread of swine flu

As news emerges that the swine flu virus has hit Europe, with cases confirmed in both Britain and Spain, three Czechs remain under surveillance after displaying symptoms of illness upon return from Mexico. Prague’s Ruzyně Airport has implemented a system of medical-checks for passengers returning from Northern and Central America, while the government has urged Czechs to avoid all non-essential travel to the region.

Prague Airport, photo: CTK

On Monday it was revealed that three Czechs had been admitted to hospital with suspected cases of swine flu, having just returned from Mexico. One was released from Prague’s Motol hospital having been vaccinated against the virus, while two were detained in the capital’s Bulovka infirmary pending the results of tests, which should be ready by Wednesday at the latest.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for Bulovka hospital, Vilma Marešová, said she thought it ‘highly unlikely’ that the pair in question had contracted the H1N1 virus. She reiterated, however, that the two patients would be monitored at the hospital until their test results came back.

Photo: CTK

On Monday, the Czech Republic’s chief health inspector, Michael Vít, unveiled security measures to try and contain the spread of the virus. He said that information on swine flu and its symptoms was being distributed on flights from Mexico to the Czech Republic, and that medical-checks were on offer at Prague’s Ruzyně airport for those who thought they may have some of the symptoms outlined. He said that Bulovka hospital had readied 20 beds in case of an outbreak and that the Czech Republic had over 2 million doses of Tamiflu – an anti-viral drug that is effective against swine flu.

The government has urged Czechs not to travel to the affected areas and one of the country’s biggest tour operators, Exim, has cancelled all trips to Mexico until further notice.

Meanwhile, the Czech presidency of the European Union called for an emergency meeting of the bloc’s health ministers on Monday. According to a statement, the meeting will be held ‘in all probability’ on Thursday.

In light of the outbreak - which is so far thought to have claimed 152 lives in Mexico – the Czech EU presidency said it was following the situation in Central America ‘very closely’ and that it was ‘determined to minimize the risk of impact on the European Union’.