Swine Flu: Is It Safe to RV Mexico?

While the big RV Mexico travel season is winding down, some RVers find Mexico an enjoyable off-season attraction. But with reports saturating the media regarding the outbreak of swine influenza, some wonder if it's wise to travel south of the border at this time. Yesterday the US Department of State and US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) weighed in on the matter, issuing a Travel Alert. Here is a portion of that official notice:

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an April 27 notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. " That advisory is in place until July 27.

How do you weigh in on what is "essential" travel to Mexico? During a call-in segment on a National Public Radio yesterday, callers agonized over the situation. One father reported his son was slated to travel to Mexico as the Best Man for a big wedding. What would the "experts" recommend? Of course, the experts cautiously pussyfooted around the issue, urging the callers to use their best judgment as to differentiate between "nonessential," and "essential. We can empathize with would-be travelers. This columnist recently had a Mexico-installed dental crown come loose. Do I consider getting the thing fixed "essential" and run whatever risk there is, traveling into Mexico, or do I put up with the missing mouth part?

For us, we've decided to take a "wait and see," view of the matter. For my part, I'm chewing on the other side of my mouth and waiting to see how the influenza situation shapes up over the next week or two. Others may feel that their needs in Mexico outweigh perceived risks. If you're among the latter, here's some "boiled down" advice from the CDC:

Before you go, visit your doctor and ask about getting a prescription for an antiviral to take in advance of visiting a possibly infected area. This is particularly recommended for folks with chronic health conditions. Consider obtaining medical evacuation insurance--should you come down sick in Mexico, getting "home" treatment is a big plus. You might also lay in a small stock of surgical masks.

Take personal precautions: Wash your hands frequently--that means with soap and water, and not just for a few seconds. A minimum of a 20-second scrub is generally recognized as safe by health officials--and don't shut off the water with your hands, use a paper towel. If you can't lay your hands on soap and water, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. If you need to cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue. If you don't have tissue, don't use your bare hands, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve. Be sure to wash up again! And avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as influenza and other viruses are easily spread by this route.

Don't hang out in places where infected persons might be confined with you--a theater or subway, for example. Listen to local health authority notices and follow their instructions.

What are the symptoms of the influenza? Fever, cough and sore throat, aches and pains and tiredness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. If you feel you are getting ill, don't travel except to seek medical care. If you don't know where to find a doctor, call the US Embassy or Consular office. If you don't know how to find one, call back to the Overseas Citizens Services desk at 00 1 202-501-4444.

Be safe.

Washington RVers Can Enhance Their Driver License for Mexi-Travel

Ever since Uncle Sam decreed that a passport or passport card would be required to return from Mexico by "ground entry," there's been an off-again on-again flurry of activity to make the system work. Passports are expensive critters, particularly if you don't plan on going anywhere but Mexico or Canada by ground or sea. Now Washington State makes it possible to pass the border checkpoints with your Washington driver license.

Under the new program, Washington residents can get an "enhanced" driver license or identification card with the required electronic chip that Border Patrol officials can read with their sophisticated equipment. If you already have a standard driver license or ID card, for another $15 you can add the enhancement features.

There are a few "catches," involved. You'll need to apply in person at one of the state's participating driver license stations, and provide proof of birth, residency, etc. You'll also need to agree to having the chip in your new card, and agree to a biometric scan. The latter is a process where a photo of your face (without glass or head covering) is made, and computerized measurements are taken from the photo and entered into a database. This will prevent anybody that kind of "looks like you" from snagging your license and trying to pass themselves off as you.

The new enhanced driver license or ID card will be good for travel into both Canada and Mexico.