Swine flu measures in Asia

Asia, a continent that has battled deadly viruses such as the H5N1 bird flu and SARS in recent years, has been taking steps to ward off the new swine flu virus.

Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis (*denotes new contribution):

• Australia:
Government approves tough new powers to detain and disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu. All incoming flights to Australia have to declare any suspected flu cases on arrival.
Thermal scanners and extra medical staff are also being sent to airports for future screening of incoming passengers. Enough anti-viral drugs stockpiled to cover around 41 per cent of 21 million population. Australia has stockpiled 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza drugs. Large stores of surgical masks.

• South Korea: Recommends nationals staying in Mexico to leave unless on urgent business. Agriculture Ministry suspends imports of live pigs from North America. Tamiflu stockpile for 2.5 million people and is working to increase that to 10 percent of population of about 49 million.

• Hong Kong: Will shut schools if one or more confirmed cases found at schools and if there is a sign disease is spreading. Media say authorities have 20 million doses of Tamiflu and other anti-flu drugs. Steps up screening at all entry points.

• Vietnam: Visitors arriving from the swine flu infected countries to be isolated. Nationals advised not to visit zones reported with the disease. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city of more than eight million people, has stocks of Tamiflu enough for one million people.

• Singapore: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew quoted in Straits Times as saying nationals returning from Mexico will be quarantined. "We're taking no chances. We learnt from Sars," he said. Thermal scanners at airport and isolation units at hospitals, where staff at some emergency departments are wearing full protective clothing.

• Japan: Central government has Tamiflu stockpile for about 22.5 million, and Relenza stockpile for about 2.68 million people, for combined stock which would cover nearly 20 per cent of population. Local governments have own stockpiles but figures not available. Checking passengers from Mexico, Canada and the US at international airports.

• New Zealand: Public health officials say "ample stocks" of anti-flu drugs. New Zealand built up stockpile after bird flu scare sufficient to cover between 25-30 per cent of the 4.3 million population. New Zealand has raised the level of its national pandemic plan and is screening all flights from North America.

• Taiwan: Current supplies of swine flu treatment to cover 10 per cent of Taiwan's 23 million population. More than one million facemasks for emergency use.

• Malaysia: Tamiflu stockpile covering more than two million of the 27-million strong population.

• Thailand: Government has 320,000 sets of Tamiflu stockpiled. GPO, state-owned drug maker, can produce one million capsules of generic Tamiflu if needed. Thailand has a population of about 65 million. Temperature screening checkpoints at international airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket.

• Philippines: Government says has Tamiflu stockpile of 600,000 for 60,000 possible cases and is buying 10 million pesos worth of additional Tamiflu. This covers a small fraction of the Philippine population of 90 million. Airports equipped with thermal scanners, hired additional medical staff to handle swine-flu related cases.

• China: China's national tourism administration orders travel agencies to suspend tours to Mexico, according to state media. The commerce ministry is donating $5 million to Mexico to help tackle the swine flu outbreak. Chinese authorities tell hospitals to swiftly report any suspected cases of swine flu, and the official press is vowing fast public disclosure of any cases.

• Bangladesh: Travellers, particularly those coming from countries already hit by recent outbreak, to be screened.

• Indonesia: Temperature scanners installed at 10 airports and ports with immediate effect. At least three million Tamiflu capsules in stock.

• India: Has stockpiled one million Tamiflu doses which cover more than 142,000 people. Government has requested another one million doses which it expects to receive within seven to10 days. Surveillance stepped up at international airports and ports.

• Asean: Has 500,000 courses of antivirals stockpiled in Singapore and another 500,000 distributed among Asean member states. Asean also has stockpile of personal protective equipment but it did not give details.