SWINE FLU has health experts around the world on edge, so if you are travelling with a runny nose and a horrible cough, you will most likely be placed in quarantine until medical experts can figure out exactly what is wrong with you.

Cases of the virus began popping up in several locations across the globe. In New York, one of the most populous states in the US, where a high concentration of Trinidadians, Tobagonians and West Indian people reside, authorities have discovered eight confirmed cases affecting students, who recently returned from a spring-break trip to Mexico, where the virus was first reported early Friday.

The outbreak came one week after this country hosted the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which was attended by Mexican President Felipe Calderon and several other Mexican officials. President of the United States Barack Obama, who attended the conference, had travelled from Mexico to Port of Spain.

Communications director at the Ministry of Health, Dr Theomary Karamanis, told the Express yesterday that the Ministry has been moving to control the highly contagious virus by setting up medical teams to screen visitors coming into the country at the Piarco International Airport and at Crown Point Airport in Tobago and at the ports in Port of Spain, Chaguaramas and Scarborough, following the World Health Oganisation’s warning that the outbreak had ’pandemic potential’.

Karamanis said they have asked all immigration personnel to be on the lookout for people showing signs of the common flu upon arrival from any country until the medical teams can be stationed at the ports of entry.

International media reports yesterday reported cases of the flu-like virus in New Zealand, Israel, France and Spain. Many of the cases involved people who had returned from Mexico.

Karamanis said the Ministry has scheduled an emergency press conference for 11 a.m. today to announce the steps the Government is making and what people can do to protect themselves, even though they have not confirmed if anyone has been found with the deadly flu-like virus in this country.

International reports have also indicated that this animal-type virus appears to have seeped through international borders, causing people around the globe to fall sick.

Affecting young and otherwise healthy adults, swine flu ravaged Mexico City earlier this month, killing more than 80 people and sickening hundreds. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported yesterday that 20 people, spread over five states --Texas, New York, California, Ohio and Kansas-- have been confirmed for the virus while others are still being investigated.

As a direct result, the United States issued a public health emergency yesterday in order to deal with the emerging new swine flu, something that was usually done by the government to prepare for approaching hurricanes, according to international reports.

Meanwhile, at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Trinidad and Tobago’s national under-17 footballers will be returning from Tijuana in Mexico and are all scheduled to be checked for the virus before they leave the airport as a precautionary measure, according to Karamanis.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation media statement yesterday, ’All measures were being taken to ensure the fullest safety of the T&T players and staff as they get ready to head back to Port of Spain via Panama City on Tuesday.’

’Currently the technical staff is fully aware of the magnitude of the situation in Mexico and we will be doing our part to ensure the safety of the players. We have no players or members of technical staff that are showing any flu-like symptoms presently,’ the statement said.

Members of the team were required to wear face masks at all time while they travelled from Tijuana to Mexico City and until they leave Mexico and steps will be taken to limit contact with crowds at the airport, it added.

On the other hand, Trinidadians living in the US are trying to practise perfect health hygiene as it is the only thing left for them to do.

A resident in Brooklyn, New York, 51-year-old Pamela Henry said while there was no public screening being done in the area, they have been advised to stay at home if they have any flu-like symptoms in order to avoid spreading the virus.

’We are being asked to go the doctor immediately, but if we are sick, we have to stay inside our homes so as to not cough or sneeze on anybody,’ she said.

Fitzroy Joseph, 67, a Trinidadian living in Houston, Texas, said although he lived miles away from where the cases were confirmed, he was still going to be careful because the fact that the disease can spread quickly was a scary thought.

’When I saw it come over the television the first time, I didn’t think about it twice, but now, you have to think about it,’ he said.