MEXICO: Tourists and students leave as shutdown goes into full swing

Record ID: 301901

  • Title: MEXICO: Tourists and students leave as shutdown goes into full swing
  • Date: 2nd May 2009
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 1, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLANES ON AIRPORT TARMAC INFORMATION SCREEN PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH AIRPORT BUILDING SIGN READING: "INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES" PEOPLE WALKING WITH FACE MASKS THROUGH TERMINAL BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILLING OUT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRES VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WALKING PAST THERMOGRAPHIC SCANNER WHICH DETECTS BODY TEMPERATURE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PASSENGER TRAVELING TO TORONTO, MARIA ORTIZ, SAYING "I think that the (health) security measures are excellent. I believe that they will help us to overcome this crisis quickly. I feel that in Mexico we are very optimistic about what is happening because really we don't see anything like a tragedy in any part of the country."
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: International Relations,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAD3420XU7XTDVGMX3MI8XZWGH8
  • Story Text: Mexico City's airport was busy on Friday (May 1) as tourists and foreign students hurried to leave Mexico as the country began a five-day shutdown to try to halt the spread of a deadly flu strain that has killed up to 176 people.
    Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked Mexicans to stay home from May 1 to 5 over the long Cinco de Mayo holiday, and urged businesses to close except for those providing essential services to the population, such as pharmacies, petrol stations and supermarkets.
    Mexico City resident Maria Ortiz, who was traveling to Canada on business, said she was impressed by the measures put in place at the airport to combat the spread of the flu virus.

    "I think that the (health) security measures are excellent. I believe that they will help us to overcome this crisis quickly. I feel that in Mexico we are very optimistic about what is happening because really we don't see anything like a tragedy in any part of the country," she said.
    As new cases of the H1N1 flu appeared around the world, Mexico City's airport has been monitoring the health of passengers as they arrive and leave the country. One method of doing this has been the installation of thermal cameras to monitor the body temperature of passengers who may have contracted the virus.
    In Mexico City, a sprawling metropolis of 20 million, all schools and universities have been shut to try to stop the sickness spreading and many foreign students are going home early as a result.
    Daniel Gorozino, a student from Peru, came to study in Mexico three years ago. He said he was going home because of the closure of his university but also because he was worried about catching the deadly flu.

    "Yes I'm quite worried because we don't know what is happening.
    The newspapers say one thing and the government another. Also, the rumours say other things and we don't know what to believe," said Gorozino, who was connecting in Bogota because Peru had suspended direct flights to Mexico.
    Millions of travelers come to Mexico each year to visit beaches, ancient pyramids and quaint colonial towns but on Thursday some headed to the airport sooner than planned.

    "We went to Tuxtla and to San Cristobal but all of the archaeological sites are closed. Everything is closed. Also, all the museums are closed. The epidemic exists, you can see it. And it is because of this that we have to go back," said Andre, a tourist from France who had to cut his holiday short.
    Tourism is an important engine for Mexico's economy but the deadly H1N1 Influenza A virus is scaring many foreigners away and hotels are reporting cancellations across the country.
    Up to 176 people are believed to have died in Mexico from the flu, a virus that passes from human to human and has spread to many countries. Many suspected cases in other parts of the world are in people who made trips to Mexico.
    Argentina and Cuba have also temporarily halted flights from Mexico, and the United States has advised against non-essential visits to its southern neighbour.
    Ecuador said it was restricting charter flights to and from Mexico for 30 days.
    Carnival Cruise Lines said it canceled Mexico stops for three of its cruise ships due to the swine flu alert and Canadian tour operator Transat AT said it was postponing its flights to Mexico until June 1.
    Mexico is one of the world's top vacation destinations and foreign tourists spent more than $13 billion last year visiting its lush beaches, colonial towns and pre-Hispanic pyramids
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