Mexican tourism crippled as swine flu spreads
By Jason Buckland, Sympatico / MSN Finance
Canadians can say goodbye to its neighbours to the way-south for the next few months; the Mexican outbreak of swine flu having turned the tropical hot spot into the Baghdad of world tourism.
Many of our leading airlines and tour operators have suspended travel to the country until various dates in June, and perhaps longer, as fear mounts over the epidemic few seem to still know much about.
Montreal-based Transat AT Inc., Canada’s largest tour agency, has wiped out all packages to Mexico until June 1 and is rushing to add new flights to bring existing customers, passengers and employees home from the south.
Other tour operators like Toronto’s Sunwing Vacations have stopped organizing trips to Mexico and are offering cancellations or the chance for clients to rebook planned vacations there.
While no one is said to have died from the swine flu outside of Mexico, it doesn’t look like anyone’s too eager to take chances on this one (especially with all the recent pictures of nurses in medical masks acting as a nasty reminder of SARS.)
Canada has issued a travel advisory on all non-essential travel to Mexico, and the airlines have followed suit.
Air Canada will suspend all operations to Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta until June (but they will keep flights to Mexico City), while WestJet will stop flights to Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta as well.
Cruise lines, however, aren't jumping to panic. Apparently Carnival is the only line to abandon its Mexican ports on their current trips, but they’re alone on this one. The Globe and Mail reports most cruise lines will stick with the country's destinations.
All this swine flu talk probably seems a bit overblown for now, but that’s because it hasn’t really hit us yet.
There are about 13 cases confirmed in Canada right now, albeit all of them considered mild. While all 13 are expected to survive, not much is admittedly known about the flu or its incubation period – and a vaccine is a still a few months away.
If anything’s for sure about the swine flu, most of us won’t be going to Mexico – where the death toll has hit 150 – to learn more about it.
Posted by: KP | Apr 29, 2021 8:27:14 AM
Now there is one toddler dead of the swine flu in the US...
Posted by: sympatico reader | Apr 29, 2021 9:15:17 AM
To Jason Buckland Sympatico/MSN Finance
Why don't you check your articles before submitting them to the world? This article is full of both gramatical and typing errors. Hopefully the sources for your information were more accurate!!
Posted by: blysfc | Apr 29, 2021 9:30:11 AM
Looks good on Mexico considering their police coverup of tourist murders.
Posted by: Alan Borkowski | Apr 29, 2021 9:55:06 AM
Been to Mexico several times and that was years ago---will never go again and would advise people to consider carefully before going, corrupt is putting it mildly. Watched for approx 1 hour the police giving out speeding tickets---any out of country plate got a speeding ticket---the fine was always the same $35.00 up front, no court, no record, no reciept. Have never felt safe walking outside of resort and never felt all that safe in resort----do as you like---I WILL NEVER GO TO MEXICO AGAIN.
Posted by: HT | Apr 29, 2021 10:06:59 AM
Thinking back on SARS. No one stopped flying to China when that outbreak happened. Now it
looks like only Air Canada is still running regular flights to Mexico City regardless of possible consequences. Is it only tour operators that can grow a pair of balls????
Posted by: Philippe | Apr 29, 2021 10:09:01 AM
I was developing technology for rapid diagnostic of such disease - enzyme based like sugar in blood for diabetic or DNA electrophoresis methods - with NRC. I had problems with self interested public servants. I involved the RCMP who covered-up. I lost my fund, my corporation,... and my wife to a public servant! Good luck and farewell !
Posted by: Johnston | Apr 29, 2021 10:10:02 AM
Mexico should be avoided for a long period of time. The only way anything will change down there is for the tourism dollars to stop flowing in. Why risk your life or your health for some sand and sun there, there are plenty of other destinations that would love to see you and treat you right.
Posted by: Robby | Apr 29, 2021 10:16:43 AM
Note to "Sympatico Reader" This is a blog, not an article. Just be glad there are no abbreviations being used.
Back to the topic. I'm not a major traveller but when I do fly to another country for a vacation, Mexico has never crossed my mind. Since the murders and talk of corruption, I've encouraged family and friends to head elsewhere. You should all do the same.
Posted by: Maria | Apr 29, 2021 10:25:48 AM
We have been to Mexico several times (Puerto Vallarta - once), Cancun (3 times), Riviera Maya (5 times) and thats all in the last 6 years. Its too bad that we classify an enitre country by a few bad apples. We have met many wonderful Mexican people who have gone out of their way to be helpful and make our vacation a pleasant one. Even had one local woman once chase me down 2 blocks while holding her infant to give me back $60.00 USD I had dropped on the street behind me. No one would do that for me at home.
Its too bad they will be going through such a tough time with loosing out on all the tourism dollars as their economy is so dependant on it. Plus, they have some great weather and even more amazing things to see. I am hoping this swine flu ends soon for all of us.
Posted by: George | Apr 29, 2021 11:12:15 AM
Who would want to go to Mexico anyways. Officials are corrupt, they held Canadians hostages at motels until their inflated bills were paid when one tour airline went broke and left tourists stranded, Canadians have been killed and every thing was covered up to protect their tourist trade. Surely there are enough other countries in the world to go to besides Mexico.
Posted by: Christopher-Peter: Maingot | Apr 29, 2021 11:32:28 AM
NEW A-H1N1 SWINE FLU VIRUS - WeApOnIzEd Strain?
David Butler-Jones - CANADA’S chief public health minister: “It re-combined to create something totally new; how, when, or where it did that, I don’t think we know. What it will lead to is impossible to predict.” (April 28, 2021)
3 vials of VIRUS are missing from Fort Detrick ARMY base in Maryland.
Vials containing Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, a VIRUS that sickens horses and can be spread to humans by mosquitoes, is missing from the research facility at Fort Detrick; home of the ARMY’S top biological weapons research, for more than a decade.
In 97% of the cases, humans with this virus will suffer FLU-like symptoms.
Bruce E. Ivins had researched anthrax at Fort Detrick, and committed suicide last year during an investigation into his activities with that research. (April 22, 2021)
The latest influenza (SWINE FLU) strain of genes from: SWINE, BIRD and, HUMAN viruses, poses similar PANDEMIC concerns reminiscent of past H5N1 BIRD occurrences. (April 28, 2021)
A-H1N1 SWINE FLU VIRUS - Feared to be Military Weaponized Strain. Former National Security Agency (NSA) official, Wayne Madsen, a contributing writer for the “Online Journal” has stated: A top scientist for the United Nations examined the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa, as well as HIV/AIDS victims, and concluded that H1N1 possesses certain transmission “vectors” that suggest, that the new flu strain has been genetically-manufactured as a military biological warfare weapon. The UN expert believes that Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and the current A-H1N1 SWINE FLU VIRUS are biological warfare agents. Another of Madsens' sources says: World Health Organization officials are afraid that the presence of gene segments from the dreaded H5N1 BIRD FLU in the A-H1N1 SWINE FLU strain could mean that the new swine flu strain was engineered to “jump species.” (April 27, 2021)
World Health Organization (WHO) agency has said; global spread of the H5N1 BIRD FLU virus since 2003 has put the world closer to another influenza pandemic. (April 28, 2021)
Baxter International Incorporated., a pharmaceutical company located in Deerfield, Illinois, and with research facilities in Orth-Donau, Austria, manufactured an "experimental virus material" based on a “human flu strain” but contaminated with live “H5N1 avian flu virus” and then distributed it to another Austrian pharmaceutical research company. The Austrian company which received this experimental virus material from Baxter, was; AVIR Green Hills Biotechnology.
Baxter manufactures flu vaccine - including a human H5N1 vaccine, for which a licence is expected shortly. (February 27, 2022)
AVIR Green Hills Biotechnology had obtained funding in 2007 for four different European Union (EU) projects, they are the lead participants and coordinators of the following projects: FLUVACC (Nasal Spray Vaccine) an Integrated research project for vaccines against pandemic influenza, SARS/FLU VACCINE a STREP research project for vaccine development, H5 VACCINE a STREP project for development of a pandemic vaccine to combat avian H5N1BIRDFLU influenza and, CHIMERIC VACCINES a CRAFT project aiming to develop novel vaccines.
Baxter's error is reminiscent of a 2005 incident, whereby: Meridian Bioscience Incorporated of Ohio, a manufacturer of “kits” for proficiency testing quality control, used by laboratories to determine how good their tests are at detecting viruses…usually influenza “A” viruses. Meridian’s kits for some reason, contained vials of H2N2 VIRUS in several thousands of their proficiency kits. H2N2 was the virus which caused a 1957 pandemic and, had not circulated since 1968. (April 14, 2021)
Doctors have said: The 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, began when an AVIAN FLU virus jumped to people. (April 28, 2021)
THE SPANISH INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC/PANDEMIC OF 1918 WAS CAUSED BY VACCINATIONS
www.whale.to/vaccine/sf1.html
The Bird Flu (HOAX) is surrounded by hype and misinformation, and it's hard to know exactly what to believe. With that in mind, Dr. A. True Ott, PhD, ND., decided to get to the heart of the issue in a two hour seminar.
Bird Flu Hoax Pt. 5 – 09:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mL--H99esI
Bird Flu Hoax Pt. 6 - 09:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dusef0Tq0&feature=related
Bird Flu Hoax Pt. 7 – 09:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kmF7_2Bs18&feature=related
This following news item is a shocking story about how the US government is killing its own soldiers, by giving them a FLU shot vaccine which has caused severe reactions and illnesses. How can any civilized government do this to its own people?
Shocking True Story – 06:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWPwLcUyw0&feature=related
Posted by: Jes | Apr 29, 2021 11:49:32 AM
Every country has corruption and on every country you can get killed and you will never find out who did it. So, DON'T come up with these stories about Mexico is bad and such its people.
I'm from Mexico living in Canada for almost 10 years; every day I hear of young people killing each other outside of downtown's bars, mothers killing their babies for a boyfriend's love, young people dying from ecstasy’s overdose, young people asking for money on the streets instead of working to make their living. SO please, try to focus on what's this blog should be about THE SWINE FLU disease.
My family have friends all over the world not because they are rich but because they are warm and they welcome you with open arms not matter what part of the world you are from.
Mexico is well known by its warm and happy people and of course there is bad people too just like anywhere in the world.
For you that criticize Mexico and its problems try to think about what kind of problems you’re facing on your own country and community and you will find that Mexico is not far different for your country.
I just hope no more people die about this disease and they find a cure fast so things go back to normal for everybody.
Posted by: Harold | Apr 29, 2021 12:09:31 PM
I have been to mexico a number of times in recent years, Love the people, Love the scenery! I feel safer in Mexico than say The Dominican Republic, and it has sometimes been rated as safer than Mexico, an error in my opinion. Bad things happen in every foreign country, my rule is DON'T DO STUPID ILLEGAL THINGS, AND STAY IN SAFE AREAS! Most trouble we experience in other countries is because we go where we shouldn't be or partake of things we shouldn't be! I can't wait to go to Mexico again.
Posted by: Bill Koller-Casa Playa Maya-Tulum Mexico | Apr 29, 2021 12:51:03 PM
Thank you Wes and those of you with a bit of common sense.
Ihave bendiving downhere on the Riiera Maya for 13 years now and can tell you frankly that the Mayans here are so warm and loving that they make North Americans appear like rude pigs.
And forthe record we have Not Had one CASE of the so called Swine flu on the coast here so far. Today is 29 April 2009.
To badmouth the people here in Mexico and to say "I will NEVER GO BACK TO MEXICO" provokes my comment. PLEASE DON"T. We don't want you here. Stay in your little Default Mode World and carry around your prejudices and Biases. We so not need to drag around that sort of Emotional and Spiritual Weight!
Viva Mexico!
Posted by: Leo | Apr 29, 2021 12:54:49 PM
Hi: This article was worthwhile because of Christopher-Peter's article. The journalists article left much to be desired and had several grammatical errors and misplaced words. BRAVO CHRISTOPHER!!!
Posted by: Ron Torgerson | Apr 29, 2021 2:10:02 PM
Mexico is a great place and the people are wonderful. I've gone there each winter for the past 6 years and the only problems I've had are with drunken tourists and timeshare salepeople. I'll continue to visit there in years to come. There's been a lot of talk about treating tourists poorly - what about the guy tasered to death by the RCMP at Vancouver's airport?
Posted by: TalkSwineFlu | Apr 29, 2021 3:41:22 PM
I think people need to calm down, If people become more scare it's likely this Swine Flu could spread quickly.
http://www.TalkSwineFlu.com
Posted by: Selma | Apr 29, 2021 4:03:41 PM
To Sympatico Reader: those who live in glass houses... Please check your admonition to Jason for errors.
Posted by: Tony V | Apr 29, 2021 4:26:32 PM
Hi
In regards to the swine flu, I think it's going on in Mexico for more than three months already. It was just made public and given a name.
The reason for the above being ,one of my colleague at work went to Mexico in January for friends wedding. On the second day of reaching there she got very sick, had to be hospitalised , and within three days she died.
she was very healthy and active girl and had no other problem but knowing the authorities in mexico the truth never comes out.
Posted by: DeltaDale | Apr 29, 2021 4:29:14 PM
Hello,
I moved from Vancouver to a town just North of Puerto Vallarta last year and not once have I felt any fear of living here, nor regretted the move.
I give Mexico full credit for working towards changing the old guard and the way things used to be.
My car still has BC plates and not once I have been pulled over for speeding, in fact, I commented to my wife they pull over more locals than foreigners.
I wish people would stop using their broad brushes to stroke a unfair picture which isn't fact or the truth.