by Gao Li

    HONG KONG, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Pacific region is on high alert against the potential danger posed by the outbreak of the human form of swine flu, which the number of suspected swine flu cases in Mexico has climbed to 1,614, including 103 deaths.

    The governments in the Asia-Pacific region are mobilizing resources and taking measures possible to guard against and prevent the outbreak and spread of the disease after the World Health Organization warned Sunday that an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico has spread to the United States, Canada and other countries.

    China's Health Ministry is on high alert for swine flu. China's Ministry of Health (MOH) is developing a diagnostic reagent for use in testing for swine flu. Research on a possible vaccine and medication to combat the deadly virus was also underway, MOH spokesman Mao Qun'an told Xinhua.

    The MOH had ordered medical institutions at all levels to step up monitoring of suspected swine flu cases, and to report them to the ministry promptly.

    New Zealand has activated its pandemic response plans and wants all passengers who have arrived in New Zealand from Mexico or the United States in the past two weeks to come forward if they have flu-like symptoms.

    The New Zealand government is warning travelers returning from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. state of Texas to see a doctor immediately if they develop any flu-like symptoms.

    Nine students and a teacher from Rangito to College in Auckland have tested positive for influenza A and are thought likely to have swine flu after a recent trip to Mexico. Samples were sent to Australia for testing on Monday afternoon. The test results are expected to be known this week.

    A notice posted on Sunday on the government travel website advises travelers to take the same precautions as for any seasonal influenza including receiving a flu vaccine, washing their hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill.

    Meanwhile, the New Zealand Pork Industry Board was advising pig farmers to take precautions against their pigs catching swine flu, New Zealand media reported on Monday.

    Responding to the swine flu outbreak, Australian federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced on Monday all flights into Australia from North or South America will have to report any passengers with flu-like symptoms before the aircraft was allowed to land.

    Roxon said the government has considered it a great concern and stood ready to upgrade its response if and as needed after the World Health Organization described the outbreak as a public health emergency,

    Five people in Australia New South Wales (NSW) will be tested for swine influenza, with the results expected by the week's end, NSW Health said on Monday.

    Roxon said the government has been prepared for a possible bird-flu outbreak. Australia has been well set-up to deal with the swine flu threat and had researchers working to identify how the flu operated and was transmitted.

    The Bangladeshi government on Monday decided to start testing international travelers at the country's airports for swine flu, particularly those coming from the infected countries, a senior health ministry official said.

    Deputy Head of the South Asian country's Avian Influenza Program under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mamun-Ar-Rashid told Xinhua on Monday, "We've decided to start testing travelers at three international airports as soon as possible."

    He said any traveler coming from the affected countries or having the flu symptoms will be screened at the country's three international airports -- Zia International Airport in capital Dhaka and two others in southeastern Chittagong and northeastern Sylhet cities.

    India Monday issued a travel advisory on swine flu, asking Indians to restrict travel to the United States, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and France, reported local newspaper Times of India electronic edition on Monday.

    The advisory was issued after the Union Health Ministry held a high-level meeting with experts from National Institute of Communicable Diseases and Indian Council of Medical Research, to work out preliminary containment measures if the virus is reported in Asia, said the report.

    The Philippine government on Monday urged its nationals to cancel unnecessary travel to Mexico and other countries where there is an outbreak of swine flu virus.

    All Filipinos traveling to Mexico, the country hit hardest by the virus, are also advised "to avoid large crowds, avoid shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, and avoid using the subway," said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

    Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Monday that Singapore is not ruling out the possibility of restricting visitor numbers at hospitals as a precautionary measure against the swine flu outbreak.

    Whether the ministry will take this measure will depend on what develops over the next couple of days, according to local news report.

    Meanwhile, South Korea will double its reserve of the antiviral Tamiflu and other influenza drugs as swine flu outbreaks in other countries raise concerns over its spread, a top health official said.

    "We believe that the nation has a sufficient amount of influenza medicine, including Tamiflu and Relenza," KCDC Director Lee Jong-koo told local reporters, adding that the government plans to increase the stockpile amount to cover up to 5 million people.

    Indonesia's government has decided on Monday to temporary halt pork import to prevent swine flu spread possibly to human following the disease outbreak in some North America's countries.

    Thailand's government on Monday has ordered installation of thermal scanners at the country's international airports, including of Suvarnabhumi International Airport as a preventive measure against the potential spread of swine flu.

    The other international airports, which have been ordered to install the thermal scanners, are in a northern province of Chiang Mai and southern province of Phuket, the Thai Public Health Ministry said in a statement.

    A statement released by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries said its member countries are currently better prepared to deal with the potential spread of the swine flu.

    The statement said the ASEAN has 500,000 courses of antivirals stockpiled in Singapore and an additional 500,000 courses have been distributed to the ASEAN member states as the ASEAN's one million courses of antivirals is a reassuring fact, while further efforts will be exerted to mobilize other sources of antivirals if needed.

    Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the ASEAN said Monday "The ASEAN Secretariat is aware of the swine flu, even though the flu has not yet affected the ASEAN countries" .

    Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Monday that the city is well prepared to deal with swine flu cases with its top medical facilities and preventive measures.

    Speaking at a media session at the Hong Kong International Airport, Tsang said the government is of high vigilance and has stepped up to measures to deal with the issue and will provide updates on the latest swine flu situation to the public daily.

    The government upgraded the alert level to "serious" on April 26 and demanded possible swine flu cases to be reported to authorities.

    The swine flu strain, known as A/H1N1. It is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds. It is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.