The Thai health department proposed to screen air passengers on inbound flights in a bid to curb the spread of A/H1N1 flu virus, Thai News Agency reported Wednesday.

Dr. Somchai Chakrabhand, also Director-General of Department of Disease Control, said on Wednesday he will discuss, with Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, stricter flu-prevention measures, such as sending health officials onto the incoming flights to take the temperatures of passengers, especially the flights from the flu-infected countries.

Such measures, which have been taken by some countries like Japan, require cooperation from airlines, airports and health officials, he added.

According to Public Health Ministry spokesperson Suphan Srithamma, a total of 22 people with flu-like symptoms are currently under surveillance in Thailand, awaiting lab test results. Among them is the husband of the German tourist who died of pneumonia on Monday.

The German woman, 65, was confirmed on Tuesday to have caught common flu instead of A/H1N1 flu. Her husband developed a mild fever after her death.

The World Health Organization reported at least 9,830 confirmed cases in 40 countries, according to the organizations' website on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2009)