BRUSSELS (27 Apr 2009) — The European Union health commissioner warned travelers not to visit the US and Mexico as the swine flu death toll climbed to 168. Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou issued the warning as US authorities on Sunday declared a public health emergency in response to the flu outbreak. Vassiliou said the precaution was necessary "in order to minimize the personal risk and to reduce of the potential risk to spread the infection to other people." "They should avoid traveling to Mexico or the United States unless it's very urgent for them," she added. Hours after Vassiliou warned travelers not to visit the US and Mexico, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its global alert level, but it stopped short of declaring a full-blown pandemic. Meanwhile, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the United States has started preparations as if the swine flu outbreak already is a full pandemic. Health officials in Mexico suspect the virus has killed 168 there of the nearly 2,000 people who have been infected. According to WHO, the number of cases confirmed worldwide was 73 with at least 40 cases in the United States. "Today we've seen increased number of confirmed cases in several countries," said WHO spokesman Paul Garwood. "WHO is very concerned about the number of cases that are appearing, and the fact that more and more cases are appearing in different countries." Health officials in Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan announced that visitors returning from flu-affected areas with fevers would be quarantined. | | At the airport in Cancun, Dr.Javier SuArez Estrada (left) informs arriving passengers on the measures they should take to avoid catching swine flu. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines deployed thermal scanners at international airports that were used to screen airline passengers during the 2003 SARS crisis. JTB, Japan's largest tour agency, has canceled all tours to Mexico through June 30 and travel agents around the world said they have been flooded with cancellations by people who had booked trips to visit Mexico. |
