Tighter screening on South border

Thailand yesterday tightened the screening of people entering the country from the southern borders as Malaysia confirmed its second case of swine flu.

The tougher move against A (H1N1) influenza came after a 21-year-old male student who returned from the US to Malaysia on May 13 was confirmed as having the virus.

Prawet Saenlah, the medical official assigned to examine visitors at Yala's Betong border checkpoint, said yesterday that screening was intensive in accordance with national standards and that visitors, especially those from countries known to have the virus, were required to fill in health questionnaires.

Arun Manhi, the medical official at Songkhla's Sadao border checkpoint, yesterday said officials now used a thermal scanner in shifts between the Sadao and Padang Besar checkpoints and intensively interviewed visitors from risky groups.

In additional to health scanning at airports and checkpoints, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot yesterday instructed 978,019 village health volunteers nation-wide to watch for A (H1N1) in their neighbourhoods.

The Education Ministry and universities are watching students while tour companies are on the lookout for any tourist suspected of having the flu, he added.