Airports to screen for Swine Flu

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Along with the flu season, the busy travel season is almost here and airports across the globe are stepping up efforts to stop the spread of H1N1.

While airport screeners are keeping an eye on security threats, this flu season they'll also bee watching out for health hazards.

"Other places where I've travelled they take a thermograph of you to see if you have a fever, and I think it's something that has to be negotiated in terms of personal freedom and health of other passengers," said passenger Richard Bribiescas.

That could soon be the norm at many airports. Due to the outbreak of Swine flu, airport staff may check the health of arriving passengers.
If you travel internationally from the United Stats, you may be asked to: have your temperature taken, answer questions about your health or be quarantined.

Protocol issued by the CDC has some passengers perplexed.  "I don't think its fair to look at medical history," said Holly Nurczyk.

Others flying out of Bradley Airport, were happy to have those flying with the dangerous disease, grounded.

"I'm a registered nurse and I believe they should quarantine people because they walk around and don't cover their cough effectively, or use hand hygiene or respiratory hygiene," said Marlene Hagaman.

In the meantime, Bradley has sanitation stations around the terminals to help stop the spread.

State representatives in Massachusetts, debated a bill Thursday that would give public health officials the authority to isolate people and set up quarantines during outbreaks of serious contagious diseases. The proposal would allow people forced into quarantine to appeal to the Superior court.

For more information on airport health screenings click here