AUSTRALIAN airports could join the rest of the world in screening passengers returning from swine flu affected areas.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said passenger screening at Australian airports could be in place "in the next few days".

The Government will make a decision today during a meeting on how protect Australia from the swine flu influenza, Ms Roxon told the ABC.

"I think that it is likely that in the course of today or the next few days those steps may well be necessary."

Qantas has confirmed it is awaiting advice from health authorities before scanning passengers.

"We haven't encountered any episodes of (swine flu), but there are no specific changes to travel arrangements or Qantas services," a spokesman said.

"Qantas has standard procedures in place and regularly reviews them to manage these sorts of risks.

"We will be working closely with Australian and international authorities to monitor the situation."

New Zealand, Spain and Bolivia are already screening passengers, while Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America have declared all travellers returning from flu-affected destinations would be quarantined.

Tokyo's Narita airport has installed a device to measure the temperatures of passengers from Mexico, while Indonesia will use devices at airports already in place to monitor SARS and bird flu to screen travellers with flu-like symptoms.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has warned Australians currently in Mexico may be asked to declare their state of health prior to departure.