The fear of spreading the swine flu, otherwise known as the H1N1 flu, has China in a state of terror. So much so, that they have taken a Canadian professor and his group of 22 students from the University of Montreal into custody. The Chinese authorities have put the group from Canada into quarantine even though none of them have exhibited any signs of the flu whatsoever.
The students were on a trip to China as part of their Asian studies from the Center for Studies for East Asia. The group will be quarantined for another five days just as a precaution since Canada has 85 confirmed cases of the flu. According to the WHO, the World Health Organization, the travelling problem in China might be an inconvenience, but is not illegal.
The professor and his students are being treated well and are receiving medical checkups every day. They are staying in an otherwise empty hotel in Chanchun. The report by the CBC news was not intended to be a warning or of any consternation but merely to warn travellers that China is taking every precaution in dealing with the flu.
In some airports in the Far East, there are thermo guards at the customs pass-through gates. When the passengers walk through, after they have checked their baggage and coats, the device can detect if anyone has a temperature or an illness. Those passengers who exhibit signs of the flu are not allowed to travel on their planes or to enter the country. It is really quite unique and smart. If they can detect weapons, then they should be able to detect viruses.
Some scientists and medical specialists are questioning if we are being too concerned about the H1N1 outbreak. It is an outbreak of a flu and we get one every year. However, this flu is different and there is only so much Tamiflu manufactured to go around.