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LISA MULLINS: Now, one government that says it's on top of the swine flu crisis is Russia's. Today, it advised against travel to Mexico, Central America or to the United States and warned travel agencies of their responsibilities to customers. And it's continuing to send medical teams to Moscow's main airport to check-out returning Russians and make sure they don't look sick. As Jessica Golloher reports, the precautions are puzzling travelers more than reassuring them.

JESSICA GOLLOHER: Russia's top public health official has said that the swine flu could reach the country in a week and that the risk of a global pandemic is very high. In response the Kremlin has ordered mask-wearing health inspectors to Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. They board planes arriving from North and South America, and patrol the baggage area to visually screen passengers for signs of the disease. This despite the fact that world health officials say that kind of inspection may not work because people can be afflicted without showing symptoms. The inspectors are not inconspicuous, most airport patrons turned to stare at the officials, mouth's open. Some even pointed at them. One man nudged his companion laughed and then said, "oh no, it's the flu, run!" Cynthia Goodfellow had no idea about the new protocols when she flew in from South America. When asked whether she thought it was necessary to be visually inspected by a mask-wearing technician, she rolled her eyes, sighed deeply and had this to say.

CYNTHIA GOODFELLOW: We're not coming in from a country that's reported with swine flu.

GOLLOHER: Dan Fitzgerald flew in from Atlanta. When asked whether he thought the visual checks were a good idea, he replied,

DAN FITZGERALD: Well sure it is. Well, any place that's had an outbreak like that's definitely worth checking everyone out and making sure it's not spread any further than what it already is.

GOLLOHER: Olivia Faith has lived in Moscow for four years. She thinks that Russian officials are overreacting.

OLIVIA FAITH: I think the whole screening things at the airport is also taking things a bit far. I mean they don't have any direct flights from Mexico, and they're screening, as far as I've heard, all the flights from North American. I think it is an exaggeration.

GOLLOHER: Russian officials maintain that not a single case has been reported in the country because they have taken proactive measures. In addition to airport screenings, they've banned pork imports from Mexico and some parts of the US even though you can't get swine flu from eating pork. Mascha Agafanova thinks the Kremlin is wasting its time and resources.

MASCHA AGAFANOVA: I believe in some chances, I believe that Russia is too far away from Mexico. If it should happen it should happen, it will happen.

GOLLOHER: And with that Agafanova pulled her miniature poodle out of her Louis Vitton dog carrier, put on her designer shades and walked out of the airport into the sunshine. For The World, I'm Jessica Golloher in Moscow

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