Dhaka - Bangladesh on Monday opened a desk at the country's main airport to screen visitors coming from countries affected by swine flu as part of its effort to prevent spread of the influenza, officials said. "The incoming passengers have been asked to fill out a self-declaration form on arrival and advised to appear before the desk if they feel fever," Mahmudur Rahman, the director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, said after an emergency meeting, which reviewed the country's preparations against the influenza threat.

If anyone is detected with the virus at the airport, he or she will be immediately taken to hospitals treating influenza, he said.

Teams comprising medical officers, epidemiologists, representative from World Health Organisation and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research will work at the airports and seaports to check such cases, Health Ministry officials said.

Airport staff dealing with immigration, customs and cargo handling were asked to wear masks during their duty hours.

Influenza screening will also be in place at the sea ports within a week, said Mahmud, adding that the travellers' screening would continue until a solution is found to the threat.

Responding to the outbreak of the swine influenza (H1N1) mainly in Mexico and the United States, the Bangladesh government asked its scientists to be prepared to tackle the threat.

"It is a global crisis and the country has to respond as per the International Health Regulations and follow the World Health Organisation's instructions," director general of the Health Directorate Shah Munir Hossain said. (dpa)