Passengers quarantined

WELLINGTON – New Zealand health authorities briefly quarantined 223 people in a Korean Airlines plane at Auckland Airport yesterday after a South Korean passenger displayed possible bird flu symptoms, officials said.

The woman was later deemed to be ‘no risk’ and suffering from suspected gastroenteritis, airport police Inspector Richard Middleton said, congratulating the flight crew for notifying authorities about the potential problem. The woman, whose name was not released, was briefly treated at a hospital in Auckland, Middleton said.Crew on the flight, from South Korea via Australia, alerted airport authorities when the woman began vomiting and showing other possible bird flu symptoms, sparking a lockdown on the tarmac as the plane landed, said Norman Upjon, an ambulance duty manager.Nampa-AFPThe woman, whose name was not released, was briefly treated at a hospital in Auckland, Middleton said.Crew on the flight, from South Korea via Australia, alerted airport authorities when the woman began vomiting and showing other possible bird flu symptoms, sparking a lockdown on the tarmac as the plane landed, said Norman Upjon, an ambulance duty manager.Nampa-AFP