BOATSMEN who ferry passengers in and out of Singapore to nearby destinations will be put through daily health screening as border checks were stepped up on Wednesday to guard against the swine flu virus coming here.

From Wednesday morning, passengers at all of the island's six ferry terminals and piers were screened for flu symptoms.

Thermal scanners were set up at the two major ferry terminals at HarbourFront and Tanah Merah to catch those running a fever.

Nurses, all wearing face masks, from Tan Tock Seng Hospital and private clinics were stationed at the other terminals and piers with thermometers and all passengers had their temperature taken before they were allowed to leave.

The ferries at these terminals shuttle holidaymakers and workers to neighbouring islands in Indonesia and Malaysia such as Batam, Bintan and Pengerang - destinations also frequented by international tourists.

Health notices were also distributed to arriving passengers, telling them what symptoms to look out for and a hotline to call if they developed flu symptoms. The green card also acts as a health alert which they have to take to the doctor should they develop symptoms.

An Indonesian man who was entering Singapore to work was picked up and kept aside at the Marina South pier when his temperature clocked more than 38 deg C.

His temperature reading was taken two more times in 15-minute intervals to check if his fever was consistent. He was given a gown and mask to don for personal protection while he waited.

He then had to fill in a card to declare that he was already taking flu medication and had not had contact with someone who might be carrying the virus. He also had to list all the countries he had travelled to in the past week.

He was later released after a doctor confirmed that he was risk-free but was advised to go back to see his doctor again.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.