May 3 (Reuters) - Asia, a continent that has battled deadly viruses such as the H5N1 bird flu and SARS in recent years, has been taking steps to ward off the new lethal flu strain virus. Current totals of new flu strain cases in Asia: COUNTRY DEATHS CONFIRMED CASES SUSPECTED CASES NEW ZEALAND 0 4 113 AUSTRALIA 0 0 80 SOUTH KOREA 0 1 28 HONG KONG 0 1 0 Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis (* Denotes new contribution): AUSTRALIA - Pandemic plans in full swing. Govt approves tough new powers to detain, disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu. All incoming flights have to declare suspected cases on arrival, make inflight announcements. International passengers have to fill health declaration card. Govt runs ads in media, sets up hotline. Deploys thermal scanners to international airports - Enough anti-viral drugs to cover around 41 percent of 21 million population. Australia has stockpiled 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu, Relenza drugs and 50 million surgical masks. SOUTH KOREA - Recommends nationals staying in Mexico to leave unless on urgent business. Agriculture Ministry suspends imports of live pigs from North America. Running round-the-clock emergency quarantine centre. - Tamiflu stockpile for 2.5 million people. Working to increase that to 10 percent of population of about 49 million.HONG KONG *- Has quarantined a downtown hotel after Mexican guest tested positive for the flu. Around 300 guests and staff being isolated for a week. In a sign perceived contagion risk may be easing, education authorities said local schools will open on Monday, though situation would be monitored continuously. - Media say authorities have 20 million doses of Tamiflu and other anti-flu drugs. Screening stepped up at all entry points. VIETNAM - Visitors arriving from the swine flu infected countries to be isolated. Nationals advised not to visit zones reported with the disease. - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city of more than 8 million people, has stocks of Tamiflu enough for 1 million people. SINGAPORE - People who visited Mexico in the past seven days to be quarantined at home for seven days and undergo "phone surveillance" for flu symptoms. Imposed visa requirements for all Mexican nationals from May 2. - Thermal scanners at airport and isolation units at hospitals, where staff at some emergency departments are wearing full protective clothing. JAPAN - Govt has about 33.8 million people's worth of Tamiflu stockpiled. In addition, 8.3 million people's worth of Tamiflu is expected to be bought soon. About 2.68 million people worth of Relenza stockpiled by the central govt. Japan's population estimated to be around 128 million people. - Military doctors, nurses posted to Narita Airport to help check passengers from Mexico, Canada and the United States. Japan began a blanket inspection of imported pigs. In 2008, Japan imported about 420 pigs. No pigs have been imported from Mexico in the last decade. NEW ZEALAND - Health Ministry to boost national stockpile of anti-viral drugs by 10 percent to nearly 1.4 million doses, which will give cover to just under one-third of the population. Raised level of national pandemic plan and screening all flights from North America. TAIWAN - Current supplies of swine flu treatment to cover 10 percent of Taiwan's 23 million population. More than one million facemasks for emergency use. MALAYSIA * - Boosting Tamiflu stockpile to cover 10 percent of the 27-million population compared to 7.5 percent currently. * - Using more thermal scanners at international airports, especially for passengers on flights from countries facing outbreaks. Travellers from affected countries required to fill in health declaration forms. Also checking visitors entering through Thai-Malaysian border and Malaysia-Singapore immigration checkpoints. THAILAND - Govt has 320,000 sets of Tamiflu stockpiled. GPO, state-owned drug maker, can produce one million capsules of generic Tamiflu if needed. Thailand has population of about 65 million. - Temperature screening checkpoints at international airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket. PHILIPPINES - Health officials to recommend increase in the government stockpile of Tamiflu to one million doses from 600,000 now which covers 60,000 cases. Philippines has population of 90 million. * - Government seven-point line of defence includes tighter screening measures at all entry points to country and campaign for proper hygiene CHINA * - Chinese Health Ministry has asked for daily flu status reports from local governments starting Sunday. Stepped up checks at airports, requires all people entering country to fill out health status declarations. Those from flu-affected countries have to go through special channel and have temperatures taken. * - Tracking, quarantining passengers on same flight as Mexican man who tested positive for flu. * - China Southern Airlines to send chartered flight to Mexico to pick up about 120 Chinese passengers stranded there - Suspends flights from Mexico after first case reported in Hong Kong travelled through Shanghai. - Chinese authorities tell hospitals to swiftly report suspected cases of flu. Official press vows fast public disclosure of any cases. Prevention education campaign launched in schools. - Chinese Health Minister says China has begun expanding stocks of Tamiflu and similar drugs, and has sufficient capacity to manufacture these medicines itself. BANGLADESH - Travellers, particularly those coming from countries already hit by recent outbreak, to be screened. INDONESIA - Temperature scanners installed at 10 airports and ports with immediate effect. Blanket ban on pig imports. Health ministry distributes safety gear to local health centres and hospitals. - At least 3 million Tamiflu capsules in stock. INDIA - Raising Tamiflu stocks to 10 million from 3 million over the next seven days. - Opening quarantine facilities in all 17 international airports. Surveillance stepped up at international airports and ports. Facilities set up to screen passengers arriving from swine flu-affected areas. ASEAN - ASEAN health ministers will try to coordinate their fight against the flu at emergency meeting in Thailand next week. - Has 500,000 courses of antivirals stockpiled in Singapore and another 500,000 distributed among ASEAN member states. ASEAN also has stockpile of personal protective equipment but it did not give details.
Chairs are piled up at an empty bar as millions were heeding government advice to stay at home in Mexico City May 2, 2009. Mexico's flu outbreak appeared to be easing ...
