The Indonesian Health Ministry took several steps to combat the H1N1 virus, particularly by screening tourists in airports and ports, the country's Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari told reporters in a conference on Monday.

"We installed thermal scanners in airports and ports to detect body temperature and provide health alert cards for passengers from affected countries," said Fadilah.

If there were passengers suspected of having the flue, they would be checked in port health offices, then brought to appointed hospitals.

"They have to obey Indonesian regulations in order to prevent the flu spreading to this country," she said.

Indonesia, she added, increased surveillance on influenza-like-illness and pneumonia in 83 sentinels and provided the antidotes, the Tamiflu, to fight the virus.

She also said that the country was ready to prepare the existing 100 bird flu appointed hospitals which were capable to handle the Mexican flu.

"We also prepares laboratories for the flu examination in the existing bird flu laboratories," she said.

The most important, she said, was spreading information to people through various information channels and preparing health officers in stand-by villages.