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Holidaymakers with symptoms facing ban on foreign travel
20.07.09
Thousands of holidaymakers could be prevented from going abroad this summer after being warned not to travel if they have symptoms of swine flu.
Airlines and cruise companies said they will turn away customers at checkins if they have the illness. The Department of Health is also urging those with the H1N1 virus not to travel.
British Airways has already stopped a handful of people leaving London over fears they had the disease and Virgin Atlantic said sick passengers
could be banned from flying unless they had a doctor's certificate giving them the go-ahead to travel.
British Airways said check-in and cabin crew staff have been told to look out for passengers with a high temperature, headache, sore throat and runny nose.
The Department of Health has also advised people not to travel abroad if they have flu-like symptoms — and to delay their journey home if they pick up the virus overseas.
The measures come at the height of the holiday rush when hundreds of thousands of Britons are preparing to go abroad.
A BA spokesman said: “If we have concerns about a customer or the customer is concerned, then we have a 24-hour medical service we can call to
give advice to staff. They will speak to the customer and an assessment will be made about their fitness to fly.
“There have been a number of cases where we have advised customers not to fly on the basis of their diagnosis or symptoms of H1N1.”
Virgin intends to prevent sufferers from flying and will only allow them to travel, for no extra charge, once they have recovered and obtained a “fit-tofly” certificate from a doctor.
A spokesman said: “If there are signs of something being wrong, be it excessive sneezing or coughing, not looking well, high temperature, then the airport staff can call in a medical team for extra advice.
“If the medical team believe there are reasons not to fly, the passenger will be asked to produce a fit-to-fly certificate from their doctor or a hospital, and they will be put, at our cost, on to the next available flight.”
P&O Cruises said customers were being given a questionnaire and would be assessed by medical staff prior to boarding if they were suspected of having swine flu. Anyone deemed unfit to
travel would be turned away.
A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said: “Our advice is that people who are symptomatic shouldn't travel and self-isolate until they're symptomfree but really it's at the airline's discretion whether to allow them to travel or not.”
Insurers have warned holidaymakers that they would not be covered for the cost of a cancelled holiday, unless they had a medical certificate stating they have swine flu.
Jonathan French, of the Association of British Insurers, said: “The principle that people will need written confirmation of a diagnosis of an illness to make a valid claim still stands.
“If they are turned away from an airport, then it's the responsibility for airlines to provide any refund.”
Reader views (6)
Isnt it strange how the govt. said we cannot stop travel when swine flu was not here yet, but now they ban people from leaving Britain with swine flu.
Rather than thinking its all conspiracy I believe it just shows gross incompetence.
- Russell, London
So airline staff are now medical experts. What if someone turns up at the gate with an ordinary cold .. or hay fever? Do they stop everyone in the party/queue/airport from travelling? It's nonsense. How long before Ryanair manage to work in a surcharge?
- Paul, London
Why couldn't they have done what China is doing, screen at the airport and quarantine when necessary. The problem with this country is that nobody wants to 'offend' anybody and the public are always put at risk because of this; whether from terrorists or by viruses. No doubt every member of the cabinet has supplies of Tamiflu for his/her whole family.
- Beatriz, London
Will the airline pay for ALL the costs of not letting the person come home, e.g. the cost of the hotel etc? If no how can they expect someone to choose not to fly?
- Ian, midlands
The deafening sound of stable doors!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Stopping them LEAVING the UK? How about stopping them entering in the first place?
[aka shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted]
- Marianne, SW France/London
