Swine flu won't prevent everyone -- this reporter included -- from visiting Mexico

Who'd have thought Mexico's bloody narco war would take a back seat to swine flu?

If there were justice in Mexico, the epidemic would be restricted to those involved in the illicit drug trade. But unfortunately it's indiscriminate, and prospective tourists undoubtedly now will entertain more second thoughts about visiting the country.

This is bad timing for me. I'm going as planned to the Los Cabos area on vacation, beginning Sunday. My airline ticket and hotel room are paid in full and I'm looking forward to catching marlin and lounging by the pool with cold cervezas. But I will not let the bartender squeeze a lime into my beer; I'll handle that responsibility and exercise the same precautions I exercise at home during flu season: Wash my hands often and avoid close quarters with anyone who appears remotely ill.

Some airlines are offering date changes or refunds. I'm not interested; I'm bolting for the land of abundant sunshine and a refreshingly beautiful and seasonally bountiful Sea of Cortez.

I became mildly concerned after reading in the Washington Post that Baja California was one of the states where swine flu had surfaced. But the report did not mention Baja California Sur, a separate state, where few if any cases of swine flu have been reported.

"To date, no outbreaks in Los Cabos; I believe Tijuana is the place where they found it," said Tracy Ehrenberg, owner of Pisces Sportfishing and wife of a prominent local politician.

Jonathan Roldan, whose Tailhunter International outfitter service is located in La Paz, said in an interview with 976-TUNA that "the biggest worry down here is that people are worried up there," and that he knows of no swine flu cases in the Baja California Sur capital.

That's good enough for me. I just hope too many  people aren't coughing on the airplane. I hate when that happens.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Striped marlin on the hook. Credit: Bill Wilson

Comments

[Richard Verdoni]

Ahhh... we're all doing fine here - come visit and if you're landlocked in Mexico City why not do this...
http://www.yoquiero.info/photo

[Jason]

I have planned this vacation to Cabo for some time. I paid for my airline ticket, paid for my resort, and need to get away for some relaxation.

People I work with are telling me I'm crazy for going into Mexico with this flu going around. Avoiding Mexico is not going to prevent me from catching it. It is in the United States, and I could easily catch it here as well.

There are a few things that I would like to point out, that the masks don't nessarily protect you, as they don't cover completely. In addition, if you touch something where someone was infected, and say rub your eye, you can catch it.

I'm prepared, I have anti-bacterial hand cleaner, and yes, will watch out for those who exhibit signs of coughing, sneezing etc.

As some have commented, yes, I also believe that the media hype makes the situation worse than it really is. Take a look at the common flu, it kills as well, but you don't see much in the news about that.

Cabo has not had a reported case, or even a suspected case reported, from what I've seen. As far as I'm concerned, Cabo is just as safe as me stepping out the front door in my neighborhood, so I am still going. I have no fears going, since I have lived in countries with far worse diseases like small pox, polio, etc.

[MLK]

just another overblown media event.
I have lived in Baja 20 years, dont know
ANYBODY thats even got cold right now.
Why is it suprising that the Media wants you
to hunker down in front of the TV watching
the illness countdown.??

[beckie]

I cant believe how selfish you all are!!!!!!!!!
I dont care if you get ill but it's not fair on everyone else having to suffer, having to take unpaid sickness off work for selfish morons like you!

[Ken Hicks]

Have a Great Time . I am going to Cabo at the end of May. And by the way This is a Fact !!! Check it out, Google it for yourself. Last year in the USA 32,000 That is right 32,000 People Died from The Flu. Were is the reporting on that!!! Regular everyday Variety Flu. Killed that many and we did not hear a single word. Sound like the new Administration Wants us to Focus on Something other than Them, One Crisis After Another.

[Groom]

And oh yeah I live in Houston, Texas. Research swine flu and Texas and I figure my chances in Mexico are the same.

[Groom]

You Go PETE! Im getting married at Los Cabos, Mexico (Dreams Hotel) on Aug. 14, 2009 and people are asking me and my fiancee are we going to postpone the wedding or have it somewhere else. I like you dang retards we've already paid for our wedding in FULL!! She was kinda down but like I told her this is where you wanted to be married and aint shyte changing that!!! I'm still waiting for the computers to shut down from the year 2000 media blast reports.

[Julia G]

If the media reported all the daily influenza cases in the U.S., including the 36,000 annual deaths, no one would even go out of their homes. If the media reported every death from auto accidents, plastered it all over the news, people would not put their children in cars. Media hype is making folks crazy!! No reports of flu in Cabo, PV, Mazatlan, Acapulco. If LA had a break out of flu with deaths (as it does), would you cancel your flight to Seattle?

[Randy]

Idiots like you will turn this into something more severe. Wait a while and then take your vacation. Morons !!!

[Fish]

Irresponsible.

[PP]

Thanks Pete for the reality check. You'd have as great a chance of catching it in LA, if not more, than you would here in Los Cabos. The American media will do just about anything these days to keep folks from coming to Mexico. I am a full time Los Cabos resident and there are no drug wars here in Los Cabos and there is no swine flu! Just tons of beautiful beaches and sunny skies! Have a great trip!

[Maria]

That's because you're thinking only of yourself, not all the innocent people you could potentially infect. There's nothing brave or noble about that.

[Jason]

Stay away from New York (40+ cases) and Scotland(2 cases) while your at it! You have a greater chance of catching it right here in the US than in Cwbo. The only way to defeat the fear mongers is by standing up to them and living your life to the fullest- there's nothing more american than that. Leaving for cabo on Thursday, can't wait for the empty beaches and full bottles of ice cold pacifico. See you there!

[Eddie]

Remember that there in not one reported case of Swine Flu in Baja California Sur, 13 in California. Sounds to me like I'd be better off in Baja. Have a great trip Pete.

[Fish]

Except for the pharmacist who commented, I doubt any of you have any medical training. I am a physician and will NOT be going into Mexico until the CDC has more of a handle on this situation. I do not believe the general public understands the potential gravity of the situation. As I stated before, the fish are not going anywhere. You can always go when its safer.

Also, the main areas of concern are airplanes and within airports, especially in Mexico. Good luck avoiding those places.

[Bobby]

Yep, I too am off to Cabo next Friday the 8th. People get so Paranoid. Well, what if there are cases in your town? Are you going to move? You've got 10 time more chance of being killed on the freeway. Stupid people *shaking head*

[JP]

I am with you Pete. I have had this surf bug for about a month and only a trip to the baja will cure it. Leaving thursday and I am ready for it. Sounds like I won't have problems stretching out on the flight!

[Nick]

I completely agree with you Pete. I am leaving for Los Cabos on thursday with my family. I am a pharmacist and am exposed to more dangerous germs on a daily basis than swine flu. What people fail to understand is how many un-reported cases of swine flu are likely out there. In most people the symptoms would not be severe enough to even seek medical attention and of the cases who do actually see a doctor it is extremely rare to test for specific strains of flu. This means that of the 1500 cases reported in Mexico and the 50 cases reported in the US there is likely tens of thousands more unreported cases which makes the mortality of such a virus minimal. Flu hits the US every year claiming many causulties so this is nothing all that significant. Canceling a trip to Mexico isn't necessarily going to save you either. We have swine flu in the US right now. You will be just as likely to contract this illness in your home town in a few weeks to a month as you are in Mexico. In many ways this virus is more benign than last years strain of virus which was resistant to tamiflu and relenza. I certainly won't be canceling my vacation due to a little flu bug.

[Matt Kearney]

I am leaving for Cabo early Saturday morning...

CANT WAIT!!!!

You have a better chance of getting speared by an angry billfish than contracting the "swine flu"...

Another example of the media making a mountain out of a mole hill...

STOP BEING SO DAM PARANOIND!!!

Turn off the tv and go read a book...

I can't wait till I am drinking a Pacifico on Modano Beach...

See you guys there...

[Adam]

I'm going to Cabo on Wednesday! See'ya down there Pete....... Nothing a little Patron won't cure......

[karen]

Hey Pete

I certainly hope for this countries economic state that there are more people with your attitude. I have lived here for 5 years and have never had a problem with the drug war, because i am not involved in the drug trade... seems pretty straight forward to me... as of today the mex govt has closed all schools for 10 days to let this flu thing go over too, so precautions are being taken. People, dont stop coming to Mexico!!!

[kenn]

Pete - sounds like a good time. I would like to point out that the rumor about regarding Tijuana is actually false -- there are currently only four "potential" (not even proven yet) cases in Mexicali. Not Tijuana, not Rosarito, not Ensenada, and not Baja CA Sur .... 4 out of a Statewide population of 3+ million....

Just like the mis-information about cartel violence, it's easier for some to echo rumors than make the effort to search around for accurate info (a fault Ms. Ehrenberg, unfortunately, gave in to above in your article).

The next few days and weeks will give us all a much better understanding of what is going on; until then, we should focus on what we know, promote standard health precautions generally -- noting that normal influenza-related illnesses resulted in over 7,000 deaths in California in 2005 (so, let's not panic yet about this current thing...). We should be cautious, yes; but not paranoid.

[Jess]

No worries, Pete. I just (cough) came back from Mexico and am healthy(cough) as a horse! Just a little sneezing and weezing. But that's normal(cough), in my opinion. And remember, you have a greater(cough) chance of getting eaten by a great white shark than you do(cough) of getting kidnapped(cough), decapitated(cough)or contracting swine flu in Mexico. Enjoy your trip! I'm feeling a tad feverish so I'm gonna go lay down.

Sincerely, J.N. the Rocket Scientist/Brain Surgeon

[Brian]

Swine flu: the next Avian flu. Or SARS. Or -- killer bees! Remember those? They were coming up from South America and we were all doomed. It was just a matter of time.

If this was a pandemic, we wouldn't be finding a few people getting sick at a time. We'd have EVERYBODY sick lightning fast, and the governments would be scrambling to find the cause.

[J D]

Take some Relenza 10 mg a day for prophylaxis. Start before you get on the plane and finish when you get off. You'll be fine.

J.D., MD