Related reading: World govts race to contain swine flu outbreak

China has joined a worldwide surveillance against a hitherto unknown swine flu that has killed at least 81 people in Mexico and threatens to turn into a global pandemic.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has asked people entering China from the virus-hit countries to report flu-like symptoms to the authorities. In an emergency notice issued on Saturday night, the country's top quality watchdog ordered the Customs to check passengers' temperature, too.

A Beijing airport official surnamed Li said Customs officers are on a high alert.

"Three temperature detectors are in operation. We're ready with protection garments and equipment, too. Passengers flying in from Mexico and other swine flu-hit countries are being monitored closely," he said.

The Ministry of Health, however, said yesterday there was no evidence to suggest that a person would contract the disease by eating pork.

Hong Kong, too, has raised its alert level against the flu to "serious". Secretary for Food & Health York Chow urged people to avoid visiting places from where swine flu cases have been reported, and said the virus would be added to Hong Kong's list of notifiable diseases.

The deadly A/H1N1 strain of swine flu, a combination of several swine, bird and human viruses, has been contracted by more than 1,300 people in Mexico, and most of the 81 people killed were aged between 25 and 45.

The virus, identified on Friday, has also infected 19 people in the US and possibly 10 in New Zealand. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the contagious virus is spreading from human to human, raising fears of a global pandemic.

In Mexico, many people have taken to wearing masks, and health workers are on the lookout for people with flu symptoms.

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