Nurses to check flights for deadly condition

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Nurses will be stationed at New Zealand's international airports as a precaution against travellers bringing in the mystery pneumonia plaguing mainly parts of Asia.

"They will be offering frontline advice, support and screening as required," director of public health Dr Colin Tukuitonga said yesterday.

The Health Ministry hopes the nurses will be recruited, trained and in place next week.

The World Health Organisation says that 2722 cases of Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and 106 deaths have been reported from 16 countries.

The ministry yesterday moved quickly to clarify that the screening would involve a preliminary assessment of passengers' wellbeing by observing them, looking for symptoms, asking questions and referring people for further assessment if necessary.

It would not involve a medical examination or a test.

The clarification followed Herald inquiries to the office of Health Minister Annette King, who has been questioned in Parliament about the lack of any Sars screening at airports.

Ms King said last month it was not possible to screen for Sars because of the lack of a diagnostic test for it and since the incubation period was up to 10 days.

Her spokesman said after yesterday's ministry statement: "She can see no contradiction at all. The screening would be for anyone showing symptoms."

Dr Tukuitonga said some other countries were already employing nurses at airports, and Australia said this week that doctors and nurses would be stationed at international airports.

"For those who are wondering why we didn't do it sooner, I have a very simple response: we didn't need to," Dr Tukuitonga said.

"New Zealand has still not had a single case of Sars. Some clinicians would say we still don't need to."

But the measure would be effective and visible.