NSW: Passengers from America scrutinised by quarantine officers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2009
NSW: Passengers from America scrutinised by quarantine officers

SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - Passengers on board a flight carrying at least one person from
Mexico have been heavily scrutinised by quarantine officers before disembarking at Sydney
Airport in the wake of the swine flu outbreak.

Several flights from the Americas have arrived in Sydney and five people with suspected
swine flu are being tested in NSW.

Passengers said there was no panic on board a Qantas flight, code-shared with Mexicana
Airlines, from Los Angeles which arrived about 8.45am (AEST) on Tuesday.

"They were saying there were some special quarantine checks they were going to do and
a quarantine officer came and checked the whole flight," Beulah Benedict, 40, told AAP.

"They didn't say anything particular about swine flu, just not to worry too much and
they'll do a special check on everyone and that's all they said."

Her husband, Peter Benedict, said a quarantine officer singled out a passenger at the
rear of the plane who appeared to be a Mexican national.

"The quarantine official was walking up and down the aisle and the guy was sitting
at the very end and we heard a beep and then he was questioning and checking and then
later we heard he was from Mexico," Mr Benedict said.

He said the official was carrying an electronic instrument, notebook and writing paper.

No one on board the flight or in Sydney quarantine was wearing a mask.

AAP krc/tdb/wjf/jpm

KEYWORD: FLU NSW

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