Quarantine authorities at Cairo airports started yesterday to apply anti-swine flu measures to the passengers coming from ten countries according to the decisions of the World Health Organization (WHO). These countries were the US, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, Spain, Austria and Mexico. Measures started being applied on passengers from Mexico on April 26. The authorities said no suspected case had been found. 103 passengers underwent medical examinations at Cairo Airport upon their arrival to check if they were infected with the virus. Cards were codified to monitor and follow them up during their residence in Egypt.
On the other hand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) gave recommendations to airlines to face swine flu and protect crew members. Pilot Tawfiq Assi, chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company, said the company had received the WHO special instructions concerning the procedures and the emergency plan to be applied to face any epidemic. The company immediately sent these instructions to its airline and the other affiliated companies concerned with air cargos, ground services and maintenance, so that they may be spread to their employees. He emphasized the need to comply with them in order to protect workers and particularly those dealing directly with passengers, luggage, remnants of food and the aircraft cleanliness.
