In view of increasing H1N1 cases detected in Pune, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane on Thursday told the House that people coming to Goa from Pune would also be put through a check to detect for swine flu.

Considering the fears expressed by the Fatorda legislator Damodar Naik, the health minister said checks would be made mandatory for buses coming from Pune.

The government constituted a core committee to monitor the situation on a regular basis. The core committee, which is headed by the chief secretary, comprises doctors and officers who will monitor and supervise the treatment of swine flu and prescribe measures to control the same.

Director of Health Services Dr Rajnanda Desai said it would be difficult to have passengers screened at all bus stands and railway stations. There are practical difficulties but we will ask railway officials and road transport officials to display information provided by us to make people aware of swine flu and how to get treated for it, she stated.  

Health officials said having a thermal camera at the Dabolim Airport could help in detecting anyone having fever. Mumbai’s international airport has cameras like these, they said and added, “On detecting a person with a body temperature above normal (98.6 degree F), the camera sounds an alarm and also captures his or her picture.”