Hong Kong will set up a hotline to handle inquiries from people who developed flu-like symptoms after traveling to human swine-flu affected areas, the local Center for Health Protection said Wednesday.

People "who developed flu-like symptoms and had traveled to human swine-flu affected areas during the 7-day period before onset of symptoms" were urged to dial 2125 1111 to facilitate follow up arrangements by the health authority, it said.

The hotline will start round-the-clock operation on Thursday, said the center, which is a unit of the Health Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

Hong Kong, which has had painful experience dealing with the SARS outbreak in 2003, is now on full alert to fend off, or at least delay, the potential spread of the human cases of the swine flu infections into the free trade hub.

It has stepped up temperature screening at the border control points, in addition to requiring travelers to complete health report forms starting from the upcoming Friday.

There has been no confirmed case of human infection of swine flu in Hong Kong but health authorities have ordered tests on seven travelers, with all-clear given for five and test results pending for the other two.

(Xinhua New Agency April 30, 2009)