U.S. Issues Swine Flu Travel Alert for Mexico

(MoneyWatch)  The U.S. Department of State issued a travel alert for citizens heading to Mexico, cautioning against nonessential travel and citing health risks because of the swine flu outbreak. (The U.S. Center for Disease Control also issued a travel health warning for Mexico, asking those citizens already in Mexico to wash their hands, seek medical help if sick and check if insurance covers medical care abroad.) While Mexican tourism is suffering from the epidemic, cases have already sprung up around the world causing airlines to act as the world's health departments and report anyone that may look like they have the disease.

The travel industry, already battered by the economy, is now seen as ground zero for a global pandemic. When travelers become afraid to travel on airlines or appear in public for fear of contracting swine flu, the industry should be nervous. While reports of cases are appearing daily in almost all continents, the numbers of those afflicted are still relatively small (only 46 cases reported Monday in the United States,) so much of the concern may be linked to irrational fear rather than facts. Still, don't expect to see any shortage of people wearing little blue face masks. They may be the next new public accessory.