Hyderabad:
Better safe than sorry -- that's what has brought on masks to the faces of most health staff and visitors at Hyderabad's Chest Hospital where suspected H1N1 influenza cases are being kept in under quarantine.
The hospital is trying to create more isolation space and the visitors have been asked to wear such masks as protective gear.
"We have stopped even family members from meeting. Not all health workers are being allowed to go in, only those who need to go are going in wearing full protective gear," said Dr Subhakar of Chest Hospital, Hyderabad.
Medical teams stationed at Hyderabad airport are screening over 2,000 people arriving everyday on 14-16 international flights from the H1N1 influenza affected countries.
"The vigil has also been stepped up at the ports according to a Central government directive and that will include Vizag," said J Satyanarayana, Health Secretary, Andhra Pradesh.
The airborne virus has an incubation period of 7-10 and is infectious even before the symptoms appear.