Swine Flu Screening @ U.S. Border
 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/?GT1=43001

I wonder how many FT-ers, who wouldn't answer questions like "what's your name" and "where are your going ?", are going to answer this time.

I certainly hope they have been passively monitoring all inbound travellers for signs of a communicable disease even before this outbreak.

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...and the thousands of Mexicans who cross the Border each day to legally shop in US Border cities.

Most FTers can't envision just how many folks "legally" crioss to and from Mexico every day a every border point.

As for the swine flu, I'd be a great deal more worried about the illegals who cross away from legal entry points (and are unlikely to stop to be asked).

The irony is when he did enter the US over the road, a flag came up on his record that he was being sought after (attorney with TB), but the agent still admitted them not knowing what to make of the note in the record.

I would hope CBP would look for signs of sick travelers to start with and if someone doesn't appear well to at least do a Q&A - if the person is sick enough that they should see a doctor, at least help them get in with an airport medical clinic from a "service" aspect of their position as civil servants to serve and protect. I don't know if this is something they already do or not.

Big problem here is how many people are going to be honest, especially with something like this hitting the news as it is. I believe fear exists that if you answer the questions honestly, one could end up in a forced quarantine until it the person is better or it is determined it isn't the bug they're looking for (SARS previously, Swine Virus this time around).

They could use thermal imaging to determine ones body temperature as people proceed into immigrations and use that as a way to determine is one is sick - or at least using a fever. I believe some nations used a technology such as this during the SARS outbreak.

I know some countries give passengers "heath questionnaires" with questions like "Have you had a headache in the past 24 hours", "have you had .. within the past 5 days?", etc. I doubt many people answer these honestly because they don't want to be bothered explaining "yes I had a headache, but it was just sinuses from my 12 hour flight and some Sudafed(or whatever) cleared it up and I'm fine now".

Hopefully this Swine Virus will quietly run its course and it'll be back to politics as usual within the next news cycle or two.

Good points.

I've been across some of the major land borders with Mexico (in automobile as well as by foot) and likewise have visited some of the large (mega) retail shops strategically placed near the border.

Not sure what to think of the Swine Flu at this point, but I'd suspect the chances are much greater of an illegal coming across (as you describe) carrying such a virus during an outbreak.

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Pandemics are pretty serious, an epidemic is what Mexico is facing. A pandemic is when you see the high rate of infection in multiple countries and flu pandemics are the worst. They spread rapidly and its very hard to get the public to understand that the flu can be fatal in large numbers. The Spanish Inlfuenza of 1918 was bad news, modern health care can only do so much, preventing the spread is critical.

We all remember last year when a passenger was warned not to fly because he had tuberculous and he got on airplane instead.

Yeah, Bart. Here's a risk scenario: Some wheezy, sneezy pax recently arrived from Mexico and now in line for security for another flight, has a carry-on that alarms. The TSO you train puts on gloves and rifles through my friend, the Mexican pax's, dirty undies and soaking wet handkerchiefs in his carry-on. I'm next. Oh, my goodness, my carry-on bag alarms, too! Your TSO, fresh from my Mexican fellow-pax's carry-on, reaches for my bag, unzips it and says, "Next?"

What's wrong with this picture? I'll give you a hint. I'm telling your TSO to get his germy gloved hands OFF MY BAG RIGHT NOW, and I want to see him or her pull a fresh pair of gloves from the box (not his or her pocket) before they touch my things.

Why do I, as the innocent by-stander here, have to be the one to ask for fresh gloves? Why don't you train your TSO's to remove gloves according to proper procedures for glove removal, and put on fresh new gloves for each passenger?

Otherwise, it's gross. And now with swine flu, dangerous.

Seriously? :rolleyes:

From what I have seen in movies of illegals crossing borders, I doubt very much we have to worry about the illegal scenario as a danger to the USA. If I am not mistaken, most of the border is desert and requires surviving dangerous elements that are often not passable even when healthy.

More likely a businessman or random individuals on a plane bring the disease here than an illegal trying to cross the border where there is no checkpoint.

Using this pandemic scare as a political football to hate on illegals is in poor taste though I am not saying anyone here is doing so.

If very pregnant criminal aliens can make the crossing to have anchor babies, I am sure someone in the incubation stage can make the crossing.

I'm willing to talk to CDC. I still don't talk to TSA.

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There is (much) more than what you see in the movies when it comes to individuals crossing the border illegally - it all depends where one crosses. I've seen illegals climb through fences and come right into the US (not too far from a legal border crossing I might add).

Anyone that comes through an official CBP checkpoint is at least going to have interaction with a CBP official. They're coming in legally and have a greater chance of having access to medical care.

A businessperson (likely educated with good hygiene -- vs an economic refugee or drug smuggler) is likely aware of the Swine Flu, the facts, and precautions, i.e. taking steps like washing hands. This random pax or business person you describe is likely to be the one traveling by plane and will enter the nation via a legal checkpoint where CBP will be on the lookout.

At any rate, the virus is already in the US and it appears it may be in other nations - no doubt it was transported via passengers on commercial airlines.

Hopefully this will not turn into a pandemic, will take its course, and be done with. Only time will tell.

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