Nepali government has announced tough measures in response to swine flu which was first detected in Mexico some days ago.

According to Tuesday's The Himalayan Times, the joint meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), Ministry of Health and representative of World Health Organization for Nepal has decided to establish a medical desk at Tribhuvan International Airport in the capital Kathmandu and immediately admit anyone with symptoms of respiratory ailments at TU Teaching Hospital and Patan Hospital in the capital.

The government has also urged the people not to panic.

Talking to the daily, Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson for MoAC, said the government was cautiously handling the issue. "Nepal is vulnerable to swine flu as the influx of US tourists to Nepal is on the rise," reasoned Dr Dahal.

He said the joint meeting had come to a decision to put pigs on round-the-clock surveillance. Nepal houses more than 1 million pigs.

"The government is on high alert. We will provide the people with surgical masks in case of flu outbreak in Nepal," said Dahal.

Though no case of swine flu has been detected in Nepal, the government is preparing to launch media campaign to spread awareness about the flu pandemic.