[plum93]

Opinions please... So I am suppose to be travelling to the Riveria Maya in Mexico in less than a week. Now there is all this hype about the swine flu and I am very nervous. I do have travel insurance, although I am not sure it would cover this unless they declare something... would you go if it was you?

[Stormster]

I'm nervous just traveling to England in ten days! I don't know, I probably would not go to Mexico. I'm so worried about this but trying not to get crazy! My sis is an infectious disease doc who works with the CDC and she's coming to dinner. I'm going to ask her what she thinks about traveling now!

[maddie036]

I would probably be nervous going. Can you call whoever is issuing the travel insurance and ask them if it would be covered?

[devildogwife]

I obviously wouldn't having a chronically ill child already. Even is he was healthy, I wouldn't chance it.

[lovemy2boys]

Chances are, you will be "fine"....but are you willing to take that chance?

Several years ago, we planned a weekend away for DH's bday - a quick trip to Toronto. SARS outbreak. Should we? Shouldn't we? We ended up cancelling our trip and going to Chicago, and had THE best time.

Same thing happened after 9-11. We were the first flight cleared to leave DMW after the attacks. We were certain we would be safe, but didn't want to take our chances at the airport because we knew it would be a zoo. After seeing the airport on the news later that day, we knew we made the right choice.

My way if thinking is if you have doubt, don't. (Thanks, Oprah! )

Can you go somewhere else instead?

[plum93]

I am not that concerned about actually getting the virus since I think my chances would be very slim but I would be very concerned about getting quarentined or not being let back in to the US at some point. We are flying into Cancun (not Mexico City!) I have weather related travel insurance but I have been on hold with them for the past hour waiting to hear if it is refundable/changeable. I put alot of money into this trip and have been really looking forward to it and it can be very difficult to get off work if I rescheduled. Hopefully I can change the location? It's just so last minute! Not how I wanted to spend my time preparing for vacation...

[sbaglio]

I would not go at this time.

[Quesita]

First of all, I'm so sorry that your vacation plans are hanging in the air. I know how important vacations can be for the spirit, and I can only imagine how you have planned and looked forward to this trip.

The swine flu has been on my mind too the past couple of days... for very different reasons.

I've been searching the news for info about swine flu outside of Mexico City all day. My receptionist left suddenly on Wednesday night for Puebla Mexico because she got a call that her grandmother is dying in her rural village. I do not know the details. My aunt is visiting from San Miguel de Allende, where she bought a beautiful home for her retirement a few years ago. My regular delivery man left for Mexico last week. I gave him a small gift. A new man, perhaps just arrived in the country, is bringing bags to my home on almost a daily basis.

So far, the confirmed cases just seem to be in Mexico City. However, a lot of chilangos (slang for Mexico City residents) went to the Riviera Maya for Semana Santa. And they are saying that the virus has no symptoms for a couple of weeks.

Eight swine flu cases were just confirmed about 8 miles from where I live. High school kids. Some of them had gone to Mexico on Spring Break. But not all of them. It is passing from person to person.

I'm very frightened.

Frightened not only of the disease itself, but also frightened by how the fact that the disease originated in Mexico is going to make many people suspicious of Mexicans and other Latinos here in this country.

The news has changed drastically in the past 48 hours. It will change drastically again in the next 48 hours.

If I were you, I would be prepared to go. And prepared to not go. Contact the CDC and see what they recommed in a couple of days. Also contact your airline, or whoever you booked your trip through. You might be able to make a change to somewhere else... St Thomas, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic.

Here is Sunday's news concerning travel to Mexico. They do not seem to be offering refunds to Cancun yet. That might change in a day or two. The Associated Press: Airlines waive change fees amid swine flu outbreak

Let us know.

[Stormster]

My sis after much hemming and hawing said if she didn't have a professional obligation, if it was an optional trip, no she would not go.

However, she did calm me down about the actual swine flu as she said something like this was fully predicted and we had a very mild flu season which is over now, they will have time and resources to prepare for next year with proper vaccine.

[mondk]

I'm an RN and have been updating myself about all this and if it were me, I would not go. Just my 2 cents! Better to be safe than sorry.

Blessings, Michelle

[sbaglio]

Originally Posted by Stormster

My sis after much hemming and hawing said if she didn't have a professional obligation, if it was an optional trip, no she would not go.

Storm, your sister and I are both in infectious diseases, and we're on the same page.

[plum93]

The travel site will let me change locations but as of now the Airline won't. They have only extended their refund policy in Mexico until April 29th so they said to keep checking back in the next few days if anything changes. Unless the airline changes its policy I cannot afford to go somewhere else so I am just waiting to see what happens with that...

It does appear to really just be the flu, nothing that special about it as far as symptoms. I know there seems to be alot of deaths in Mexico City but as far as any other countries citizens that have been effected it has been mild cases not requiring any special medical attention. Again my biggest fear is just somehow getting stuck in Mexico if things change or it gets worse while we are there. I am trying not to freak myself out. I remember the fear of the Avian Flu a while ago and that turned out to be nothing anyways. But this is bad bad bad timing! If anyone hears anything new please let me know though.

[sadiegirl]

It's not just in Mexico anymore...

20 cases in 5 states now...

[binkybear]

I wouldn't go based on the hype and hysteria alone.

Even if the flu is a mild flu, if you get there and can't get home (ill or otherwise) what do you do? I guess you'd have to have a solid well thought out "disaster plan" in place for yourself there and for those in your family still at home. Seems like a lot of work and worry for something that is suppose to be relaxing.

In today's world I wouldn't risk it. And avian flu wasn't a big deal "here"....but where it was, it was bad. You're flying into the hot zone, those here now affected were in Cancun for spring break and vacation.

[JPDakota]

The thing is that this virus has finally made the jump - contagion from person to person. These viruses have spread from animal (or bird) to humans, but not then from human to human. This is a new virus at this point. We have no natural immunity to it. Might be worse in Mexico right now because it has been there longer. In a couple of days the virus may bring serious illness here. Might not, of course. So far the two newer anti-virus meds seem to be working. The CDC has a plan.
But travel to Mexico right now? I don't think I could do it. Getting stuck there would not be fun, or having to be quarantined upon return. Hopefully the airline will give you a break if you choose not to travel there.
Good luck!