good article (translated from spanish) on flu and precautions at Cancun Airport http://www.noticaribe.com.mx/cancun/2009/04/alerta_preventiva_en_qr_por_casos_de_influenza.html%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4HPIA_enCA311CA311%26num%3D100]article click here[/url]
"How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed? To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing. " from http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm So how can they diagnose it at the airport?
From the Consulate in Merida: Warden Message Flu Outbreak in Mexico April 24, 2009 The U.S. Embassy in Mexico advises that as a precaution, Mexican authorities closed all schools in the Federal District and in the State of Mexico on April 24, 2009 as the Mexican Secretariat of Health announced hundreds of cases of flu in the country, some of which may be the H1N1 strain of "swine flu". Some other public institutions, such as museums and government offices, are also closed. Exact numbers of the people infected with the various strains of flu are unavailable. The U.S. Embassy has no additional information about closures. The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not "swine flu"; any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula can be found on the U.S. Consulate Merida website at the following link: http://merida.usconsulate.gov/doctorslist2.html. At this time the Mexican Secretariat of Health urges people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway. Maintaining a distance of at least six feet from other persons may decrease the risk of exposure. In addition, the following prevention tips are from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website: 1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. 2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. 3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. 4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. 5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. 6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. For additional information, please consult the CDC website at www.cdc.gov, or the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int. The U.S. Embassy will also post additional information as it becomes available at: www.usembassy-mexico.gov. The U.S. Consulate in Merida is located at Calle 60 No. 338 K x 29 y 31, Colonia Alcala Martin; telephone from the United States: 011-52-999-942-5700; telephone within Merida: 942-5700; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-999-942-5700. You may also contact the Consulate by e-mail at: meridacons@state.gov <mailto:meridacons@state.gov> . The U.S. Consulate's web page is http://merida.usconsulate.gov <http://merida.usconsulate.gov/> .
Common sense and common courtesy will go a long way in preventing this from reaching the pandemic magnitude that everyone is screaming about. If you have flu-like symptoms go to the doctor, dont shake hands, and dont do anything that will spread the germs. If you must go out, be thoughtful of what you touch and where you cough. I tend to stay locked up in my place when I am sick and I'm careful not to touch doors, people, shopping carts, or anything else with the hand i use to cover my mouth, but sadly the majority of people could care less how many germs the spread around. Basic hygiene should go without saying... again.. sadly most people don't even bother to wash their hands when using the restroom. I guess my point is.. if this turns into a big thing it will most likely be the fault of inconsiderate and lazy people who dont do what is necessary to protect others.....
Ok stevesteve, please try and keep your blog promotion of this issue to a minimum until you at least contribute regularly on other everyday issues. Something like 15 posts just today, all leading to your blog. While we appreciate the updates cancuncare is not really there to provide a vehicle to give you quality backlinks, help your serps and ultimately drive traffic to your site and clicks on your ads. If you want to post updates then please feel free to do so by posting the info directly here without the blog links, a signature link is fine. Thanks.
I have worked very hard today to collect/collate the information about the very fast moving story of swine flu and present it in a way that benefits readers and potential travelers to Cancun. I do hope I have helped at least a few people make informed decisions about this subject. I do understand that every board has its own policy, and I respect your policy. So I will keep links pointing to blog to a minimum, and to the extent that information can be directly quoted from news sources, will do so. -steve
CNN just reported that some of the school kids that were sick in that high school in New York had been to Cancun for spring break... insinuating that they got sick here.... it seems that the US media is once again using the IN Mexico IS ALL of Mexico mentality for reporting, never mind that (to the best of my knowledge) not a single case of swine flu has been spotted here in Cancun or the State of Q.Roo.
Canada just confirmed young people coming back from Yucatan got swine flu (a coincidence?). http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/04/26/mexico-swine-flu.html
