Officials to check cruise passengers returning from Mexico for swine flu symptoms

[mercedes]

Several news outlets in Alabama are reporting federal agents in Mobile will greet a Carnival cruise ship returning from Mexico Thursday to examine arriving passengers for signs of swine flu.

Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker tells Alabama's Press-Register the agents won't have the authority to detain passengers who show signs of the illness but will give them protective equipment such as masks and advise them on virus prevention tips.

Carnival's 1,542-passenger Holiday is on a five-night cruise out of Mobile that includes a stop in Progreso and Cozumel -- both on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The ship is scheduled to sail another cruise to Mexico departing Thursday afternoon after the ship disembarks its current passengers.

The Press-Register says employees at the Alabama Cruise Terminal are taking a number of measures to prepare for the ship's arrival Thursday, including setting up additional hand sanitation stations and stocking masks and gloves that can be distributed on demand.

The U.S. government Monday recommended that Americans defer all nonessential travel to Mexico, but Carnival and other major lines say they plan to go ahead with voyages to the country from multiple ports in the USA including Mobile, Miami and Los Angeles.

Carnival alone has four ships carrying around 10,000 passengers arriving in Mexico today.

[JoeyandDavid]

I guess this will be Carnivals stress test...

[GottaCruz]

I guess it's a start but realistically, someone could have been exposed but not symptomatic yet.