Travel warning to Mexico canceled as swine flu fears ease

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Yesterday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control lifted its warning that travelers avoid non-essential trips to Mexico as fears over the swine flu have faded.

The CDC wrote on its website that “the Mexican outbreak is slowing down in many cities… [and] the United States and other countries are now seeing increasing numbers of cases not associated with travel to Mexico.”

Still, at-risk groups such as pregnant women, children under 5, and the elderly “may want to consider postponing travel,” according to the CDC.

Thousands of trips to Mexico were canceled over the CDC’s earlier warning, and most cruise ships were re-routed to avoid Mexico because of fears of the H1N1 virus, popularly known as the “swine flu.”

Time will tell whether the travelers return to Mexico, or whether flu fears will continue to keep people away– despite the CDC’s assertion that Mexican travel is now safe.

More here.

Swine flu symptoms? Next holiday in Mexico is free

by Jamie Rhein on

It’s a bummer to get sick on a vacation. Anyone who has been holed up in a hotel with the chills or worse instead of out enjoying the trip that you paid for can vouch for that. Illness isn’t great for tourism either. Mexico tourism has hit the skids because of H1N1 virus, aka, swine flu. Folks in the Mexico tourism industry have begun to cook up ideas to entice tourists to head south. Here’s one.

In an effort to make amends, and woo tourists into thinking that a little swine flu is worth the risk, three hotel chains: Real Resorts, Dreams and Secrets are offering a screaming deal to anyone who has swine flu like symptoms within eight days after they get home from their Caribbean coast vacation. According to this Daily Mail article, if you arrive home and get sick, you get three years of free vacation fun in Mexico. The eight day limit, I suppose, is to keep people from blaming any old ailment they acquire days, weeks or months later on their beach holiday.

There’s a couple of hitches with this plan. The U.S. is still recommending that people not travel to Mexico unless they really have to and several companies have canceled trips. But, still, it’s a creative odd reverse of what is usually the case of what people want from a vacation.

Most people head to Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter, hoping to NOT get sick. In this case, getting sick is like hitting the lottery. I wonder how many people will be disappointed on the ninth day after they have returned home and wake up without one ache and pain–not even a twinge. Not only do you NOT win three years of free vacation, but you have to go to work. Most people will end up heading to work. Probably all of them. Mexico’s Health Minister has reported that out of the 2,000 registered swine flu cases, only two have been from Cancun.

Possible swine flu on Alaska cruise ship

by Catherine Bodry on

The numbers of cruise ship bookings to Alaska are down this year, and with a possible case of swine flu detected on board one ship in Alaska waters, I’m worried they could very well go down even more.

The Associated Press reports today that “a female crew member of the Serenade of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, became ill May 2 while sailing from San Francisco northward.” Swine flu was suspected, and the Washington State Public Health Laboratory forwarded tests to the CDC, which is validating the results. Meanwhile, state officials in Alaska conducted its own tests in Ketchikan when the ship docked there. The results were negative, though officials note that the patient had been taking Tamiflu and hadn’t run a fever for several days, so the negative results were not surprising.

If this case turns out to be positive for swine flu, it will be the first reported case in Alaska.

UPDATE: Alaska health officials say tests confirmed that swine flu sickened the crew member, but she has since recovered after a course of treatment and a CDC-recommended 7-day period of isolation. However, Alaska health officials argue that the case can’t be considered Alaska’s “first case” of swine flu for several reasons, one being that the woman became ill before entering state waters.

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[Via Anchorage Daily News]

The next invasion of your privacy at the airport? Your temperature!

by Scott Carmichael on

Fueled by a global panic about the Swine Flu, some airports are installing thermal imaging cameras to spot arriving and departing passengers with elevated temperatures.

This technology is new to our continent, but has been used in Asia for years, mainly because of their experience in dealing with avian flu and SARS.

The thermal imaging cameras are placed in strategic locations, and show inspectors a colored image representing your temperature. Passengers with a fever will most likely be pulled aside and submitted to some extra scrutiny.

Of course, the technology could also mean those passengers running to catch their next flight may set off an alarm if the run has made them all hot and sweaty…

It won’t be long until a trip to the airport involves a full body scan and a thermal imaging session, it really is amazing what a little panic about the flu can do! Still, I’m guessing it is better to be safe than sorry, and if this technology can stop sick people from being seated next to me, I’m all for it.

Continental Airlines reduces flights to Mexico

by Jamie Rhein on

In response to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, Continental Airlines is cutting the number of fights to Mexico by 40% and reducing the size of the planes making the trips. Because the demand for Mexico travel has gone way, way, way down, the airlines is taking these cost cutting measures.

The cuts are in effect starting Monday and are expected to be only temporary. Also, for folks who already have tickets, the airline is letting people change their itineraries until the end of the month.

Depending on demand, more adjustments could be made. Hopefully, people’s places of employment will be understanding and let people adjust vacation days, otherwise insult could be added to injury. What good is the ability to change an itinerary if the rest of life doesn’t make an adjustment? [El Paso Times]