Ed Walsh
SF Gay Travel Examiner
It is important to keep in mind that there have been NO confirmed cases of swine flu in Jalisco.
The US Embassy in Mexico City has issued a new health alert for all US citizens traveling to or living in Mexico.
It advises citizens to stockpile two weeks of food and emergency supplies.
The complete message is below.
The US Consuate General in Guadalajara told the Guadalajara Reporter that no specific guidelines are being issued for the western part of the country including the tourist Meccas of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. For a direct link to the article, click here.
The consulate in Guadalajara is closed to the public for visas but is open to provide emergency assistance. They are also processing passport and citizen applications, according to the Guadalajara Reporter.
For my most recent post on the risks of traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, click here.
For more information, click here, for an article on the Jalisco governor’s press conferenece from the English language newspaper, the Guadalajara Reporter. The cities of Puerto Vallarta and Guadaljara are in the Mexican State of Jalisco.
It is important to keep in mind that there have been NO confirmed cases of swine flu in Jalisco.
Click here for the latest advice from the US Consulate in Guadalajara.
The fears over swine flu have turned the resort town of Puerto Vallarta into a virtual ghost town. Bars and most restaurants have shut down. A former Chicago TV reporter who know lives in Puerto Vallarta recently reported on the scene there. For that story, click here.
For my previous post on Puerto Vallarta’s bars being shut down, click here.
For my earlier post on the risk of swine flu in the Mexican State of Jalisco which includes Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, click here.
This information is current as of today, Wed Apr 29 21:59:20 2009.
Mexico – 2009-H1N1 Influenza
April 28, 2009
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of 2009-H1N1 influenza (“swine flu).” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 27 issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. CDC’s notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizen residents in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico, provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza. The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Please check this site frequently for updates. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert dated April 27, 2009 and provides updated information on closings of schools and commercial venues in Mexico and U.S. consular operations throughout Mexico. This Travel Alert will be reviewed and updated as necessary, and is valid until further notice.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities.
The Government of Mexico has announced that as a precautionary measure, all schools throughout Mexico from kindergarten through university level will remain closed until May 6. All government-sponsored events involving large crowds have also been canceled, and museums and most tourist attractions are closed. During an April 28 press conference, the Mayor of Mexico City announced that all establishments where large numbers of the public gather will be closed, including restaurants, bars, discos, night clubs, movie theaters, gyms, and convention centers. The Archdiocese of Mexico City has also closed Catholic churches for services.
Effective April 28, all nonimmigrant visa operations at all consular posts in Mexico will be suspended until May 6. American citizen services are restricted to passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and emergency services. Please refer to Embassy Mexico’s web page at http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/main.html for the latest information on closings and service reductions. Immigrant visa appointments in Ciudad Juarez will be cancelled for the week of May 4th. Further information on rescheduling visa appointments is available on Ciudad Juarez’s web page at http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/
The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not 2009-H1N1 influenza. Any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Mexico City medical authorities are urging people to avoid hospitals and clinics unless they have a medical emergency, since hospitals can be centers of infection; instead, those with health concerns are encouraged to stay home and call their physicians to avoid potential exposure. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following links: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/sacs_medical_info.html (Spanish)
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_medical_info.html (English)
For additional information, please consult the State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov, the CDC website at www.cdc.gov , or the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int . The U.S.-based call center for U.S. citizens can be reached at 1-888-407-4747 from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, , or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444 . The U.S. Embassy will post additional information as it becomes available at: www.usembassy-mexico.gov . American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ .
For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx . The Embassy’s internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/ .
Consulates:
Ciudad Juarez: Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel. (52)(656) 227-3000 . http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500 . http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402 . http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov
Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700 . http://merida.usconsulate.gov
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 047-3100. http://monterrey.usconsulate.gov
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150 . http://nogales.usconsulate.gov
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512 . http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400 . http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html
Consular Agencies:
Acapulco: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 – local 14, telephone (52)(744) 484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556 .
Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624) 143-3566 .
Cancún: Plaza Caracol two, second level, no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272 .
Ciudad Acuña: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro, telephone (52)(877) 772-8661
Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juárez between Melgar and 5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone (52)(987) 872-4574 .
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100 .
Mazatlán: Hotel Playa Mazatlán, Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (52)(669) 916-5889 .
Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior 20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951) 516-2853 .
Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel. (878) 782-5586.
Playa del Carmen: “The Palapa,” Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (52)(984) 873-0303 .
Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (52)(322) 222-0069 .
Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa, Colonia Rodríguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923 - 9331
San Luis Potosí: Edificio “Las Terrazas”, Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone: (52)(444) 811-7802/7803.
San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or (52)(415) 152-0068
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