By Jason Scott and Gemma Daley
April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Australia is testing 112 people for swine flu and the government has increased surveillance, detention and disinfection powers to combat any outbreak, the Department of Health said.
Some 90 passengers showing flu symptoms have been detained through airport medical checks and will undergo further tests. Authorities are contacting 15 people who were on a plane from Mexico two days ago with New Zealanders who have been infected, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said in Canberra.
Australia may use thermal scanners at airports and passengers may have to fill out health cards under new provisions, Roxon said. The nation already uses disinfectant on planes and quarantines people who show symptoms of the disease.
“We have no confirmed cases in Australia, but we are prepared to take every precautionary measure needed,” Roxon told reporters in Canberra today, adding that 4,800 passengers entered Australia from the Americas each day.
Swine flu is suspected of killing 152 people in Mexico and has spread to the U.S, Canada, the U.K. and New Zealand.
New Zealand health services are treating 14 people for swine flu, an increase of three from yesterday. All are from Auckland, have tested positive for type-A influenza and have recently returned from Mexico or North America.
Extra Powers
Another five cases are suspected, down from eight yesterday, Julia Peters, Auckland’s regional public health team leader, said on a conference call with reporters. In total, 179 people are in voluntary isolation.
In Australia, the New South Wales state government has followed national lawmakers by upgrading the flu in their public health schedule. That increases powers in the state, which has 54 suspected cases of the flu, and will allow medial officers to detain anyone who shows symptoms. As well, 31 people have been tested and cleared.
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