Swine Flu Alert

With the outbreak of Swine Flu, it is no wonder everyone who remembers the days of SARS will get the shivers and fears. I always believe to fight it we must learn to know our enemy. So reading more about the virus and be more knowledgeable about the situation will surely help you be aware of where you stand. The world can still be a safe place if you know where you are going...

We have read much news about the H1Ni but here is an announcement dated 30 April 09 from the Student & Youth Travel Association based in US.

Dear Colleague,
Our nation and its leadership are committed to the safety and welfare of all citizens, particularly our youth. As the Swine Flu (now referred to as H1N1 virus) epidemic continues, SYTA, your professional organization, wants to provide you with information designed to help you communicate with our student and youth travelers.

Basic Information about the H1N1 Virus
The H1N1 virus causes a respiratory infection. It is rare in people, but human infections can occur.
The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well.
The incubation period is 1-7 days.
Eating pork or pork products cannot spread swine flu.

Talking Points to Use with Clients
· The health and well-being of our student and youth travelers is our paramount
concern, and we continue to work with government agencies to communicate the
facts about the H1N1 virus situation in a measured and responsible way.
· Health experts continue to affirm an approach that balances concern without
alarm.

The CDC has not issued a travel warning to any areas in the U.S., the only area to date that has any restrictions is Mexico.
The number of cases of the H1N1 virus is still limited, with only 109 confirmed total cases reported in the U.S. to date.
The majority of the patients – mainly infants and the elderly - suffered only minor illness and did not require hospitalization, and nearly all are already improving.
We are constantly monitoring news from the CDC, WTO and federal and state government agencies. We will continue to update our information as it becomes available.

SYTA continues to monitor the situation and stay apprised of the CDC and World Health Organization's guidelines. For immediate information, please visit www.syta.org.
Should you receive any calls from the media, we ask that you forward them to Gabby McNamara at our public relations agency, Redpoint Marketing PR. She can be reached at (212) 229-0119, cell (908) 461-5260 or mcnamara@redpointpr.com

If you have any additional questions, please contact Claudia Mansfield Sutton (703-610-0225 or cmsutton@syta.org) or myself (810-664-1777 or jkrish@traveladventures.com).
Regards,
John Krish,SYTA President

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