Even as the World Health Organisation tries to clear the misconception that swine flu spreads by eating pork, Mumbai's top hotels have stopped serving pork dishes
Even as the World Health Organisation tries to clear the misconception that swine flu spreads by eating pork, Mumbai's top hotels have stopped serving pork dishes
Even though the World Health Organisation announced that it would stop using the term swine flu to avoid misconception over the danger posed by pigs and call it the H1N1 influenza A, Mumbai's five-star hotels are unwilling to take any chances.
The swine flu outbreak has pushed the city's top-notch hotels to take pork dishes off their menu.
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Pankaj Sampat, general manager of Taj President, Cuffe Parade, said, "Our staff has been briefed.
The ITC Maratha at Andheri has done the same. "We have stopped serving cold meats.
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We are maintaining the cooking temperature at 85u00b0C," said a spokesperson for the hotel. According to the WHO, pork cooked above 70u00b0C is safe.
Some hotels like The Ramada Powai and The Residence Hotel and Convention Centre at Powai have also tied up with doctors who will be available 24 hours a day.
As further precaution, employees suffering from cold and cough or fever are also certified for work by the company doctor.
"After airport staff, we are the next to come in contact with foreigners. Hence, we are maintaining personal hygiene standards in all receiving and operational areas," said Rishi Puri, group GM of the hotels. "We are also checking the foreigners' itineraries," he added.
Other five-star hotels too are discreetly scanning their lists for guests from swine flu-affected countries. Said Sampat, "All guests coming from Mexico, US and Canada are required to submit a medical report."
The Taj President is also requesting guests to fill a declaration form stating details of the countries they have recently visited.
S P Jain, president of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (Western India), said, "I have sent a message to all hotels to take precautions. They should ensure that the guests checking in have been examined at the airport and given a clean chit."
Jain believes this epidemic will have an adverse impact on the hospitality industry, which has been hit by terror attacks and recession. "This development could mean a further loss of 20-25 per cent."
Swine flu enters Hong Kong
It seems these measures by the city's hotels have come not a moment too late.
The swine flu entered Hong Kong yesterday with a guest at the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai district. The guest is a Mexican who had come from his native country to Hong Kong via Shanghai.
He has been tested positive for swine flu and is in a stable condition. As a result of the diagnosis, Hong Kong has gone on high alert and the Metropark Hotel has been cordoned off.
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