Sunday April 26, 2009, 8:35 pm
" The industry has been grappling in recent months with fears that Mexico’s drug war has made the country too risky to visit. Now comes a mysterious virus that runs the risk of turning the country into a no-go zone in the minds of many travelers.

Rafael García González, president of the Mexico City Hotel Association, reported a 20 percent drop in national tourism to the capital over the weekend and said the effects of the crisis on international visitors were still being assessed. Daniel Loaeza, vice president of the National Restaurant Association, said the closing of restaurants for even a few days could mean significant damage to the industry."

Sunday April 26, 2009, 10:22 pm
Well, it´s what some people wanted, no?

I wonder if the USA reputation is going to be damaged the day that people stop being afraid to see the truth, you know, there are people that are always writing anti-Mexican news out there....shame on them, their hate is notorious.

They cover Cheney latest news with the "Mexican Flu" stories. Bad journalists and very well paid by the USA authorities.

note this:

http://www.care2.com/news/member/471046224/1127660

Well covered the weapons USA big potatoes sell or give for free to the drug dealers, (because the big business of the drugs it´s there, in the North and in DOLLARS) Time to know the names of the big potatoes that send the dollars and time for the USA to admit they consume lots of drugs.

Well even the USA authorities want to hide Guantanamo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, 9-11, racism, Hiroshima and etc,many people already open the eyes and stopped living in the Disneyland that big potatoes up there created like Hollywood pictures or low class soap operas of the 70´s. Nobody believes them no more, only the ones that support all this list that I mentioned...but those are lost cases, they don´t deserve my time, like this news of panic "9-11 style" but now with flu not with antrax.

If somebody wants to damage Mexico reputation and business here in the "south" well, maybe they will affect themselves too with this, don´t you think? (I love when people with no culture say that Mexico belongs to central America or South America, they are funny)

Then, don´t complain about illegals crossing the borders, because these stories damaged Mexico so bad, also with the crisis, don´t forget how affected Mexico too, that people will find jobs "up" there in the north, because there are some lazy people that don´t want to do the "dirty" job. Remmeber Mexicans do bathrooms and washing dishes better than anybody else LOL, but treated like SLAVES, thing that amazes me in the 21 century.

Maybe all the Mac Donalds, Burger kings and all the trash big potatoes send to us here to Mexico,will break too as our tourism, because there will not be money to spend in trash food from the north.

boooooo (que miedo) (Scary). Mexico will survive, Mexicans are the neighbors God gave you, but always remember that Mexicans were here in "America" first than the ones that came to invade these lands.

Sorry I can´t note this, I hope you understand me, hun.

Monday April 27, 2009, 6:14 am
This is a huge and frightening situation world round... since there are already several states and countries confirming cases of this new strain of flu virus, plus it seems it is attacking not just the very young, already ill or elderly, but those that are healthy, and the ages between 7 and 45 to 50! I am definitely concerned for everyone. I, like many of you have other health issues that make many of us more susceptible to contracting it. With my autoimmune system compromised due to Lupus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder and Sjogren's, I am trying to be even more cautious, and watch out for where I go, even here in town.

My thoughts are with those already ill, and for all of us, that this will not turn into a pandemic. But, it truly does not look very good right now.

Take care Pam

Monday April 27, 2009, 10:34 am
My brother..rest his Soul..used to love going to Mexico..It was one of his favorite places to visit..I have never had the opportunity to travel there..though I would have loved to..as well as traveled to many places in the world..

I don't understand the rediculous comment above by Teresa " Well, it´s what some people wanted, no?"

Teresa also wrote.."I wonder if the USA reputation is going to be damaged the day that people stop being afraid to see the truth, you know, there are people that are always writing anti-Mexican news out there....shame on them, their hate is notorious.'

Who would want such a thing..What is wrong with you Teresa..If there is any hate or prejudice here..clearly it is your own..Why would you come here to accuse me or anyone of such a foolish thing..How dare you accuse so unjustly..You are wrong..and whatever your personal issue is with me..Please do not come here with these horrible accusations..And don't make this about "YOU" Please take your drama somewhere else..
Unbelievable..

It is sad that any country has a fallout..be it drug wars..killing wars..disease..failing economy..Regardless of the country..

Thank you Pam for your comment..It is scary..and I do hope no more will fall ill and eve sadder..die from this..
It is spreading all over..and I just hope and pray they will take all measures to contain it..and to do so very soon..

Monday April 27, 2009, 11:00 am
Teresa, get a grip. It's becoming an international health crisis. What are you suggesting? That people not report on it at all? When SARS hit in 2003, China and Canada were the two main countries affected the most and no one was accusing any of the reporting of being "anti-Canadian" or "Anti--Chinese."

Monday April 27, 2009, 11:06 am
Teresa ... are you saying that this is a conspiracy against Mexico and the Mexican people and it's all made up?

Seriously ... I agree ... get a freakin' grip.

Monday April 27, 2009, 11:17 am
Dee thank you for getting this story out. Noted.

It is sad to see such things happening to any one country and even sadder to see people take a news item so personally they would twist it into a conspiracy.

Monday April 27, 2009, 11:30 am
Anyone who knows me..truly knows me..knows I do not have any ill wishes against anyone or anything..
Anyone who knows my news stories..well.. one would also see I do a lot about bad Police Officers...Am I anti police..For goodness sake my oldest son is a Police Officer..Sargent..Special investigator..I am extremely proud of him..he is a wonderful example of what the law officers should be..But I will report in a heartbeat a bad one..and so would he..

I am no more anti-Mexico..than I am anti-Police..Ridiculous..absolutely rediculous..

Thank you Boty..It is important and I just cannot believe Teresa would come her and make this such a personal and very foolish issue..

Bill..Uno..Christian..((hug)) Thank you all for your comments..And thank you for knowing who I really am..and what this news story is about..

Many thanks to everyone who noted on this important story..

Monday April 27, 2009, 12:33 pm
Well Dee I sure can note this story..As I see many have. What a shame not to!Anyway
our neighbor.. the whole family has been in Mexico now for several weeks..Their kids just went last week before all this started..I do hope they are ok as well as they can return unharmed and safe..
Thanks Dee..

Monday April 27, 2009, 1:11 pm
Dee, we know you!! we know you would never insult anyone. Don't let Teresa upset you.... you don't need that. I am behind you! This is a health issue and a very serious one too. It was nothing to do with race or county.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Dee.
hugs

Monday April 27, 2009, 2:32 pm
Teresa the only hate I see here is from you..You can sugar coat yourself all you like..you can sign off with love ..that doesn't change the fact that you are attacking others..namely me in this case..and then you cry the victim..I think your first post here clearly showed your true colors..and who is filled with hate against a country..
I have never spoken a an ill word against Mexico..or any country..Drug dealers..gangs..I don't care what country they are from..I will speak out against them..Yes..

Personally Teresa..no..I don't like you..but I don't hate you..And my decision to not like you came from the treatment you spewed at me quite a few times..which is why I blocked you long ago..and the way I saw you treat those you called friends..If they don't agree with you..you drop them..leave their groups..and bad mouth them behind their backs..And it is only those that follow and do as "you want them to..that remain your friends..

Why are you even looking at my news stories..I would not waste my time to look at yours..I have no interest whatsoever in what you report..Certainly I don't have the desire..nor the time and energy to follow you around to attack you..Apparently you do have the time and desire to follow me around..for the sole purpose of attacking and harassing me..

Grow up and stop the drama..or at least take it somewhere else..This is extremely childish of you..

This is an important story..a very serious matter and all you are doing is attempting to bring attention to yourself..This is not about you..Please stop your nonsense..and kindly leave me alone..

Monday April 27, 2009, 3:09 pm
This is the reason I'm no longer your friend Teresa; these kind of statements. I'm actually worried about you, you seem to display signs of parania. But your comments lately have been bizarre and hurtful. Your behavior in Feedback made up my mind.

Monday April 27, 2009, 3:39 pm
Mexico is lovely. But at the moment, there is something REAL happening and it has to do with a bad medical issue and it is NOT based on MEXICO, it is based on a possible PANDEMIC happening.
Get REAL.

Monday April 27, 2009, 3:42 pm
Grist: Swine Flu outbreak linked to Smithfield Factory Farms

Monday April 27, 2009, 4:10 pm
agree with James on TEresa's comments.
Dee, we know your news stories are not to hurt. You only help!
Goodness people! There is an epidemic. Read the news and check the puters, it's all out there.
HUG TO YOU DEE & TX.!

Monday April 27, 2009, 4:31 pm
Please keep it civil. If you have commented on the article and all you have left are insults for others, please take it elsewhere.

Monday April 27, 2009, 4:35 pm
The World Health Organization has issued a phase 4 alert on the swine flu.

Monday April 27, 2009, 4:49 pm
Teresa wrote:

Then please, by all means and with our blessings, go worry about those things and leave us alone.

Monday April 27, 2009, 6:58 pm
http://www.care2.com/news/member/979852695/1128567

How viruses are being combined via genetic engineering, and then sent out 'accidentally' in tainted flu vaccinations..

Result: pandemics and HUGE profits for those drug makers who produce anti flu medicines...

Monday April 27, 2009, 9:14 pm
Thank you Dee! (((Dee)))

Monday April 27, 2009, 9:33 pm
It seems that just last Friday there was a report on Google news that there were 2 isolated swine flu-like cases, unrelated to each other, in California. Suddenly, there were some in Texas, then over the weekend I read about the large number in Mexico. Then I read about the number of deaths. Now today, it is everywhere. How frightening.

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 2:31 am
Eric..For so many of the naysayers..it really is a no-win situation..
If they said and did nothing..the same people would be on their case quick to condemn and accuse them of neglect..

I just hope this doesn't turn as bad as it could..Hope it can be contained..and no more deaths..

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 2:44 am
((Thank you Eric))

And..once again many thanks to all who have noted and commented on this story..It is very sad and serious what is going on..both the illness as well as the drug wars in Mexico..Much like NYC..when 911 struck..people were afraid to come to NY..or the AIDS virus..another factor that kept people from coming to NY..Sadly as if these are the only places were trouble dwells..or diseases run rampant..

One should always take safe measures and precautions in these areas..regardless where it is..
I just hope there will be a better day for all..soon..End to all drug wars..and diseases of this sort..

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 5:40 am
Just a reminder, those of you who have week immune systems, those of us who have young children in our care, those of us who have older adults in our care, really should be mindful of this flu. I sure do hope it is SARS all over again, but I am a way safer then sorry kinda gal. I am hoping and wishing everyone else is.

So get the green Clorox, Lysol and spray your home down, and wash the pets you have with hair. Clear away and drains out trash from your fronts, backs and in between homes, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Those who are more into preventing, rather then blaming will come out of all this fine...

Peace and Love

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 9:13 am
They just announced the 1st confirmed case in Indiana, 2 more are being tested.

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 10:11 am
I would like to ask a question to all who vehemently opposed the use of animals in labs a question as to what is their solution to the newest Flu. As you know it is a new form of virus that combines avian and swine flu's. It also has moved from a Zoonosis bug to one that can travel from bird to swine to human and human to human.

A few facts, the flu virus has an ability called antigenic shift and drift, without getting into the science complexities what this means is there are essentially loops in the viral chain that in the right condition can add or subtract components from another virus.

For example it is likely swine got the bird flu exposure and transmitted it to human hosts.

All flu virus vaccines are animal products, that is why your asked if your allergic to eggs or feathers before you receive a vaccine.

There is absolutely no way I know of to find a way to stop/disarm this killer virus without using animals as we do not know what it will do if it continues to change. I live in the USA were we have enough antiviral meds to treat people, this is not true of most countries. Today even with no confirmed cases in NC the Director of health issues an order to confine ALL people who become infected and are confirmed with Swine Flu to their homes or face a public health arrest as is done for confirmed TB patients who will not follow public health rules.

My question is without stories of conspiracy and big pharm plots, the fact is the virus is here and it could kill huge numbers of people worldwide. WHO is at a 4 out of a 6 in declaring this a world wide pandemic to place into effect health restrictions to stop this until research finds a way to lessen the blow.

So what do you think should be done regarding the research? Do you let the flu run its course over the world and deal with the aftermath, when you realize the aftermath will impact the poorest countries, do you change your position and feel research is needed to prevent what very well could be a family members death?

I obviously see the need for the research and the gift animals make in it, so my position is clear but if your against it aside from all the emotion what is your solution/suggestion and is it viable, quick enough and will it save life as has been proved with other flu vaccines?

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 1:40 pm
There's news of 3 maybe 4 cases here in central Florida, one supposidly confirmed by a hospital offical but since the CDC and DISNEY haven't confirmed it, it's not. The one confirmed was a tourist from Mexico who visited Disney. Anyone that lives here, knows NOTHING happens at Disney, no deaths have EVER been recorded, they all are pronounced dead once they get off Disney property. Can you imagine what this is going to do to central Florida?
Hey people, get back on subject here. How it is effecting tourism, be it Mexico or our states we live in. I have a friend in Utah, was planning a trip to come see me, now they aren't, just for fear of flying period, that was last night, trip canceled, before we even had any kind of case, be it pig flu or not. Just from fear of flying because of the flu.

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 2:26 pm
Bill..you know my stance on animal/human research..if it is for the good of all I am not opposed to it..Until they find another way..it is all we have..And.. whatever it takes to stop these outbreaks/diseases that could be globally disastrous..then they need to do what they can..

Marcia..people are back on subject here..It has been advised not to travel to Mexico..and I am sure anyone with any common sense at this time would take heed to that warning..You say your friends canceled the trip last night..(that would be the 27th) This began well before the 27th..I am sure they are concerned about the flu there and rightfully so..And of course that is going to effect Mexico's tourism..or anywhere that there is this sort of problem..
Cuban has stopped all travel to Mexico..Many places have..as that is where the outbreak began and it has the higest cases of death/illness..

Tuesday April 28, 2009, 3:59 pm
Just to be clear on my above post.. where I thanked Eric..I am referring to Eric from Care2 Support..
Once again..((Thank you Eric)) for helping me keep this news story on track..

Wednesday April 29, 2009, 8:02 am
I just posted this in my Blue Heron group to address some fears that were raised there. I justthought there should be a little clarification as to why these viruses arise from countries like Mexico & China.

"Viruses arise commonly in ducks & geese and other birds where they usually are harmless to them (but not always). Because they are nothing more than DNA when they capture a cell the DNA of the virus can intermingle with the DNA of the host and hence include some of that DNA when they reproduce. That's called a mutation. They mutate constantly and quickly. Because ducks are raised for food they are very frequently near pigs. A virus cannot mutate from a bird to a human. Or at least it is very rare. But it can mutate to infect a pig. And pigs are closer to the physiologic make up of a human. When in the pig it will eventually, by chance, mutate to infect humans. Hence the vast majority of virus originate in countries where fowl, pigs & humans live in close contact such as the third world. That's why you hear of 'avian flu' or 'swine' flu."

Dee, your article was very informative. Thank you very much. Most people will read it and understand it and take it for it's value. Don't worry about the others, hon.

Thursday April 30, 2009, 12:23 pm
Thank you Rains..I am glad most understand this..and at the end of the day..no..worry about such things that bear no worth..
And thank you very much for sharing that info here with us..

I hope this pushes those who breed..raise and slaughter pigs to change the way they do it..I think the filthy conditions they are raised in has a great risk of passing diseases..both among the animals and yes..now as we see to humans..And this is in many places..Very unhealthy..very dangerous..

All countries need to take responsibility on this..as well as with drugs..killing..and clean it all up..
Corruption..greed..hatred..fighting..and disease..will be the downfall of this world if we don't change our ways..

Tuesday May 12, 2009, 3:24 pm
Zen thanks so much for the green star..My neighbors daughter has returned from Mexico and she is ok..The rest of her family is still there..They have alot of family there..And Dee you are so right about what you said about..I couldn't agree more!
All countries need to take responsibility on this..as well as with drugs..killing..and clean it all up..
Corruption..greed..hatred..fighting..and disease..will be the downfall of this world if we don't change our ways..

Tuesday May 12, 2009, 3:52 pm
Thanks Jo..Yes this is about countries working both individually as well as working together to clean up the garbage in their countries and to help each other..not condemn..There is no anti-anything here..
There is drugs in all countries..diseases too..And it needs great attention..and action to make it better for ALL..