Panama takes swine flu precautions

 Vessels transiting the waterway will now be required to report before they arrive in canal waters whether any of the previous 10 port calls declared are located in countries identified by the World Health Organisation as having outbreaks of the virus.
They will also need to declare whether passengers or crew members on board are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as high fever, cough, fatigue, severe headache, vomiting or lack of appetite, and the evolution of these symptoms.
As a crucial meeting point for maritime and air links between Central and South America, Panama has stepped up its vigilance against the spread of the H1N1 virus that has claimed more than 20 lives in Mexico.
Cases have been confirmed in up to 19 countries including neighbouring Colombia and Costa Rica.
Masters are being told to consult the World Health Organisation’s website to verify whether new countries have been identified as having outbreaks of this virus before submitting information to the ACP for transit.