April 28, 2009 - As of April 27 2009, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is recommending that all travellers from Canada postpone elective or non-essential travel to Mexico until further notice as the outbreak is now affecting most regions of Mexico.

If travelling to Mexico, the following precautions should be taken:

- Wash hands frequently

- Use soap and warm running water.

• Keep alcohol-based hand gel (at least 62% alcohol content) available and use if water is not readily available.

- Cover mouth and/or nose when sneezing and coughing; wash hands afterwards.

• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or use your upper sleeve.

- Try to avoid contact with people who appear to have a respiratory illness.

- Keep track of updates on the situation; visit PHAC and the World Health Organization website often for updates and recommendations.

- Pay attention to local Mexican government announcements regarding the situation.

- Get vaccinated against seasonal influenza.

Travellers who are at higher risk from influenza should talk to their health care provider before they leave.  This group includes those with chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, lung disease, heart disease), the elderly and children under 2 years of age.

If travellers develop symptoms while in Mexico, they are advised to contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate for a list of doctors in their area.

Canadians that have returned from Mexico and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, particularly high fever, should contact their health care practitioner and advise them of their travel history.  While at home, those who are ill should follow the same precautions as for seasonal influenza –washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when ill. 

For more information on human swine influenza, the public can visit the PHAC website at phac-aspc.gc.ca  Up-to-date travel information is available on the PHAC website under “travel health”.

-END-