Title – Was the first flu victim a modern Typhoid Mary? Click Here
Title – British Exodus from Mexico as battle against virus intensifies Click Here
Source – The Independent
Date – 29th April 2009
If ever there was a good example of what a difference a week makes then this is it. Just 5 days ago I commented on what was then an ‘inside page’ news story and since then you would be hard pressed to find a newspaper in the world, which was not carrying the ‘Swine Flu’ story on it’s front cover.
I don’t want to comment on the situation itself, because of it is changing day by day and even hour by hour; but the main reason I will not comment is because the internet is already crowded with information of which far too much is rumour and conjecture; one report today claimed that over 6 billion spam emails had been sent out offering ‘prescription drugs’ for sale to combat swine flu.
It is this type of activity and false reporting which leads to ‘irrational’ human responses; if ever there was a time for people to use common sense and rationality it is for these types of news stories. I have to say I trust the opinion of medical professionals over editors of newspapers and blogs every time.
In this case the best sources of advice for me are:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
www.nathnac.org/travel
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
Because of the proximity of the USA to the outbreak, in this case I would certainly also check:www.cdc.gov/travel
The one big change since my last blog entry is the travel advice given. There is obviously now a recommendation from the FCO to avoid all travel to Mexico and for people in Mexico to take precautions against contracting the virus; while most are being repatriated by tour operators or are making their own way back.
I also want to put everything in some perspective. This virus undoubtedly should be taken serious and has the potential to turn into a pandemic; however it is not there yet and most medical professionals I have listened to are cautiously optimistic because to date those people who have contracted the virus outside of Mexico (where information is not exactly flowing openly yet) are showing ‘mild’ symptoms, which are responding to treatment well. Much as this virus seems to be a combination of human, bird and pig flu, it should not yet be confused with the deadly H5N1 strain of Avian Flu with its frightening 50% - 80% mortality rates.
By the time you read this story it will no doubt already be out of date, so if your travel plans are taking you anywhere near the affected regions, do your research even more carefully than usual and revisit those websites indicated above regularly.
At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Many parts of the world present travellers with consistent travel health challenges, which are well documented and understood. However new ‘developments’ and local outbreaks mean that conducting your own research and risk assessment prior to travel is as essential as consulting your GP or travel clinic.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.
For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.
Title – British Exodus from Mexico as battle against virus intensifies Click Here
Source – The Independent
Date – 29th April 2009
If ever there was a good example of what a difference a week makes then this is it. Just 5 days ago I commented on what was then an ‘inside page’ news story and since then you would be hard pressed to find a newspaper in the world, which was not carrying the ‘Swine Flu’ story on it’s front cover.
I don’t want to comment on the situation itself, because of it is changing day by day and even hour by hour; but the main reason I will not comment is because the internet is already crowded with information of which far too much is rumour and conjecture; one report today claimed that over 6 billion spam emails had been sent out offering ‘prescription drugs’ for sale to combat swine flu.
It is this type of activity and false reporting which leads to ‘irrational’ human responses; if ever there was a time for people to use common sense and rationality it is for these types of news stories. I have to say I trust the opinion of medical professionals over editors of newspapers and blogs every time.
In this case the best sources of advice for me are:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
www.nathnac.org/travel
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
Because of the proximity of the USA to the outbreak, in this case I would certainly also check:www.cdc.gov/travel
The one big change since my last blog entry is the travel advice given. There is obviously now a recommendation from the FCO to avoid all travel to Mexico and for people in Mexico to take precautions against contracting the virus; while most are being repatriated by tour operators or are making their own way back.
I also want to put everything in some perspective. This virus undoubtedly should be taken serious and has the potential to turn into a pandemic; however it is not there yet and most medical professionals I have listened to are cautiously optimistic because to date those people who have contracted the virus outside of Mexico (where information is not exactly flowing openly yet) are showing ‘mild’ symptoms, which are responding to treatment well. Much as this virus seems to be a combination of human, bird and pig flu, it should not yet be confused with the deadly H5N1 strain of Avian Flu with its frightening 50% - 80% mortality rates.
By the time you read this story it will no doubt already be out of date, so if your travel plans are taking you anywhere near the affected regions, do your research even more carefully than usual and revisit those websites indicated above regularly.
At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Many parts of the world present travellers with consistent travel health challenges, which are well documented and understood. However new ‘developments’ and local outbreaks mean that conducting your own research and risk assessment prior to travel is as essential as consulting your GP or travel clinic.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.
For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.
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