China examines passengers on flight from swine flu-hit Mexico

Special Report:
World Tackles Swine
Flu

SHANGHAI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- No flu-like infections
were found among passengers and crew members on flight AM098, which was the
first direct flight from swine flu-hit Mexico to China's mainland, after the
epidemic broke out last week, according to the quarantine staff at an airport in
Shanghai Thursday.

Passengers of AeroMexico flight AM098 receive quarantine checks up on
their arrival at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai
municipality, April 30, 2009. It's the first flight from Mexico to
China since the spread of swine flu, and serious quarantine measures
were taken at the airport. (Xinhua/Pei
Xin)
Photo
Gallery

The Mexico Airlines flight was ordered to park away
from the parking apron, after it landed at the Shanghai Pudong International
Airport at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Chinese medical workers boarded the plane to take the
temperature of every one on board. The 202 passengers were then allowed to get
off and enter the airport through a private channel.

No flu symptoms were found, according the medical
staff, who explained that anyone whose temperature exceeds 37.5 degree Celsius
will be sent to the Shanghai Public Health Center for further examination.

"All of us had our passports and identification cards
registered after we entered the airport," said Wang Zhongying, one of the fight
passengers.

She said most of the passengers on board were
Chinese.

"Mexico airport also made strict disease control
measures. Every one was wearing a mask," said a woman who made a short stay in
the swine flu-ravaged country, where 159 people have died of the disease.

She said she did not have contact with flu patients
in Mexico.

The Pudong airport quarantine staff disinfected the
plane after passengers disembarked.

Shanghai is the only city in China's mainland that
has a direct air route to and from Mexico. The Pudong airport has taken strict
quarantine measures on all flights from North America Region.

The Shanghai tourist department said on Wednesday
that there were 440 Shanghai tourists still in Mexico and America. They have
been urged to wear masks and contact Chinese embassies if they develop flu
symptoms.

China on Wednesday urged local governments to be on
full alert, warning that the country will be more vulnerable to swine flu during
the upcoming May holiday travel boom.

Passengers of AeroMexico
flight AM098 receive quarantine checks up on their arrival at the
Shanghai Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai municipality, April 30, 2009.
It's the first flight from Mexico to China since the spread
of swine flu, and serious quarantine measures were taken at the
airport. (Xinhua/Pei Xin)
Photo
Gallery