Northern border remains open; precautionary measures in place

Along the northern border since Saturday, the monitoring of the Swine Flu epidemic began. Stakeholders at the border in Santa Elena and at the Commercial Free Zone began putting in place precautionary measures to prevent the respiratory disease from spreading into Belize. Since the outbreak of the flu in Mexico, cases have been detected close to Belize in the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. News Five headed north today and found officials were sensitizing the travelling public about the precautionary measures.

Yamilka Almeida, Nurse
“We are here at the Corozal Free Zone as part of an orientation program by the Ministry of Health in order to prevent the transmission of the swine flu virus that has killed several people in Mexico. We are looking at people who may have respiratory problems that would indicate a possible symptom of this flu. We are trying to prevent the country of Belize from becoming infected with the flu.”

Vernon Leslie, Immigration Officer, Northern Border
“The ministry of health has placed the entire border area on high alert. Because as everyone knows the swine flu has infected Quintana Roo now right and it’s coming this way noh, so we have to stop it.”

Duane Moody
“What are you guys doing to prevent it from entering Belize?”

Vernon Leslie
“We are having the preventive equipment in place. And anyone coming in, we are properly screening them. We’re investigating where they are coming from, what part. If they are from the epicentre of Mexico City, we stop them and turn them back.”

Duane Moody
“Since when has this been done, sir?”

Vernon Leslie
“Well, all weekend we have started this and we will continue. We have to stop this thing here, at the border here.”

Yamilka Almeida
”We have sent back some people who had flu-like symptoms. This morning a lady with these symptoms went back to Mexico. She may not have had the swine flu but as prevention, we had to send her back.”

Raul Rosado, C.E.O., Commercial Free Zone, Corozal
”There has been an educational program to all the investors in the free zone—all employees and visitors and all the stakeholders—the customs department, immigration department, BAHA, border management and the casinos has been included. Other than that, I know that they are trying to encouraging people to use their masks and gloves and to constantly wash their hands and to be eating fruits and vegetables. And if there is to be anyone with any slight symptoms that would be related to the flu, to be reported immediately to the health authorities to be treated.”

Duane Moody
“Have you seen that there is a fear from the workers—Belizeans in general, of contracting this disease?”

Raul Rosado
“I wouldn’t say there is a fear…there is a concern, yes. It is a concern worldwide, but we have educated them enough that they know what are the symptoms and they know where to go to should that would occur.”