British airports on alert over swine flu outbreak

THE death toll from swine flu in Mexico reached 103 today as British airports were put on alert over fears of a global pandemic.

A total of 1,614 people have been diagnosed. British Government officials met for a crisis swine flu "summit".

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the country was on "constant alert" as officials from across the Government discussed the situation under the Cobra system. Cobra meetings are held in response to an unprecedented national crisis.

The European Commission today called a summit meeting of health ministers.

Two Scottish tourists who had returned from Mexico with flu-like symptoms were being tested today.

There have been 20 confirmed cases in America, six in Canada and 10 reported in New Zealand as well as four in France, six in Spain and one in Israel.

All passengers flying back from Mexico, where the virus first struck, are being checked as they arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick. Passengers on one plane at Heathrow were held for 45 minutes yesterday while they were screened. They later emerged into the terminal wearing blue face masks to ward off the virus, which is spread by close contact with infected people and animals.

English teacher Alistair Dixon, 24, who has been in Mexico since September, said: "A lot of people over there are wearing masks. At the airport in Mexico City we had to fill out a form saying we felt okay, and when we got to Heathrow health inspectors boarded.

"They went through the plane asking people if they had any symptoms. A few people put their hands up, but they let us off the plane.

"I was coming home anyway, but among my friends there was a little bit of panic.

"I bought a mask, but a lot of people were given them on public transport."

This strain of influenza virus known as H1N1 could lead to as many as 120million deaths worldwide. Health experts said today that the full extent of the threat to the UK would be known in a couple of days.

Dr Maureen Baker, in charge of pandemic flu planning at the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "It would be extremely unrealistic to think there could be a flu pandemic and we wouldn't get it here in Britain."

swine flu passengers flying into london are screened for symptoms of killer virus