Accra, April 29, GNA - Passengers coming into the country through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are being observed by surveillance teams for any symptoms that might indicate that they might be having the swine flu.

Upon a directive from the Ministry of Health, the Port Health Department at the KIA is carrying out this directive in collaboration with the Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Ghana Immigration Service, as part of measures to prevent the spread of

disease into the country. Mr Abraham Adom, Director of Port Health at the KIA, told the

Ghana News Agency on Wednesday that in-coming passengers are also given fliers which contain information on symptoms of the disease and anyone experiencing any symptoms is advised to immediately contact the Port Health Desk at the airport. He said special arrangements had also been made to deal with any suspected cases that might be detected at the airport, but no such case had been detected so far.

Mr Adom advised the public, especially people who come into contact with others who have just arrived from other countries and that have symptoms, to contact the nearest health centre.

The disease which originated in Mexico has spread to the US,

Canada and Spain, among other countries. The World Health Organization has warned all countries to be vigilant for unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among young and healthy adults as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease. Dr Elias Sory, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, has advised Ghanaians not to panic over the outbreak, saying adequate measures had been put in place to contain any possible outbreak.