April 27th, 2009 - Over the last few days, I have had several people call or email me asking for updates on the Swine Flu Outbreak. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has posted a press release with links directly to World Health Organizations. I am attaching the press release for everyone to get the appropriate links.

For airline procedure updates, please go to the appropriate airline web site or call one of our agents at 828-254-0746 for current information.

We wanted to get these links out to everyone in an effort to keep everyone updated and their ability to find current information as it is posted on the web by the government agencies.

Be sure to call if you have any questions, our agents are always available to assist with helping you understand what is going on that could effect your travel plans.

Wallace Wilcox, President

Please be advised that at this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this  recommendation will be posted on the CDC Web site. Please check this site frequently for updates.

If you or your client must to travel to an area that has reported cases of swine flu, the  CDC recommends that you/they

• check updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Secretaria de Salud and World Health Organization.
  
• Monitor announcements from Mexico's Ministry of Health and local government including information about affected areas, as not all areas are equally affected.
  
• Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations.

Further, please be advised that Mexico has instituted swine flu screening at airports and land borders for travelers departing Mexico, according to Mexican health authorities. Passengers showing symptoms of swine influenza will be asked to submit voluntarily to physical examination and further evaluation, if needed. Entry and exit screening may cause significant delays at airports.

At this time, the United States is not conducting enhanced entry screening of passengers arriving from Mexico, nor is the United States conducting exit screening of passengers departing for Mexico.

The Department of Homeland Security will provide Travel Health Alert Notices to US travelers going to and coming from Mexico at all airports, seaports, and land border crossings. These notices provide advice to travelers on how to reduce their risk of getting sick, the symptoms of swine flu, and what to do if the traveler becomes sick.

CDC will provide all ill passengers and their contacts arriving from Mexico with Travel Health Alert Notices. These notices provide advice and information regarding seeking health advice from a physician and how to prevent illness in persons who have been exposed but who are not ill.

Because of the fast changing nature of this situation, we encourage all ASTA members to check the following Web sites frequently.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
US Embassy in Mexico
Pan American Health Organization

ASTA will continue to monitor the situation and provide members with information as it develops.