Health Office advises against Mexico travel
Switzerland was one of several countries on Tuesday to advise citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico.
A new swine flu virus that is believed to have killed more than 150 people in Mexico was found further around the world on Tuesday and the spectre of a pandemic began to hit air travel.
The first cases were confirmed in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, as world health officials said they suspected American patients may have transmitted the virus to others in the US.
The Federal Health Office said nine Swiss who had just returned from Mexico all had the symptoms of influenza and were in quarantine. Initial test results were expected in the coming 24-36 hours.
The virus originally spread from pigs to humans, but unlike avian flu that struck in Asia, the latest strain can be transmitted between humans. This phenomenon makes it harder to contain the spread of the disease.
Switzerland has set up a telephone hotline (031 322 2100) to give advice to travellers who plan to travel to the affected areas or who have just returned. There is also an internet site where people can find information (www.pandemia.ch).
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that a pandemic – a global outbreak of a serious new illness – is not yet inevitable but that all countries should prepare for the worst, especially poorer developing nations.
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