The obvious answer is yes and no. While the U.S. government (aside from Vice President Biden’s refreshingly honest statement that he would advise family members not only to avoid Mexico, but also confined spaces such as subways and airplanes) has stopped short of advising U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Mexico, the general unspoken message is just that.
You can bet that references to swine flu risks will be piled on top of a nod to the economy in upcoming articles from newspaper travel sections (what’s left of them) and glossy magazines. Now, they say, “8 ways to satisfy your wanderlust without breaking the bank.” Soon, it’ll be simply, “Staying away from influenza outbreaks? 8 places to see closer to home.”
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
But there’s an interesting piece from the Associated Press via MSNBC today, about Mexico City’s suddenly clear air, quiet streets, and plummeting crime rates. In fact, aside from your risk of catching a possibly deadly illness, Mexico City has never looked so good. (Although, with so many businesses and cultural centers closed and few people out and about, you might be at a loss for something to do.)
Admittedly, as attractive as it sounds, I won’t be going to Mexico City right now. I don’t have the time, or the money, and, yes, I do not want to expose my toddler to the swine flu.
But that last argument is a bit nonsensical. For any of us, the chances of dying in a car accident any day of the week are exponentially higher than catching swine flu. Almost nobody considers staying home for that reason. And I could take my son to any number of countries where he’s more likely to catch some wretched illness.
So today, even if a visit to Mexico City is hypothetical for me, I fall back on my advice to travelers and writers alike: learn to listen to your instincts, and then trust them. And above all, never make a choice in response to fear. Fear makes us powerless, and almost always backfires. Use your brain: weigh options, try to look objectively at the facts, but never trust fear to lead you.
From Perceptive Travel webzine: Unbalanced in the Sinking City
I spent last weekend in Guadalajara – with my children. I have to say, I ignored the first reports of swine flu last Friday (wow! can that only be a week ago?) thinking that since we weren’t going near Mexico City, it wouldn’t affect us in any way. By Monday, when waiters, shop assistants and pretty much everyone else was wearing face masks, it became hard to ignore. On Tuesday, we felt compelled to contact a medical professional in the US and the kid’s schools (since they were due to return to class on Thursday am). We also talked to our boys seriously about what was happening and why.
I know there’s a lot of (probably undeserved) media focus on this story at the moment and I know intellectually that we probably haven’t contracted the virus (we’re still waiting to find out). That said, viscerally, my tiger-mama is out in full force and I’m on full-alert watching for my boys to show flu symptoms. I couldn’t, in all good conscience, recommend that any parent wittingly take the same risks.
To be honest, I’m totally with you. I can see taking the risks for myself, and not even considering them risks for that matter. But my son? Forget it. He came down with a cold this week and I was all on the phone to the pediatrician looking for symptoms, since my county has at least one confirmed case and we live close to NYC.
I think acting out of fear is a little different from being a protective parent. It’s in our natures to protect and care for our children. I don’t go to friends’ houses when there’s flu in their family, so I would apply the same logic to traveling.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! I’m sure your boys are fine, but I know how you feel — you don’t stop holding your breath until you’re sure they’re out of the woods.
I wouldn’t go right now, but I would go (and take my child) once the panic subsides. I AM going to Guanajuato starting June 7, so let’s hope things are under control by then!
sometimes we must consider the safety and health of ourselves and our love ones. It’s better to set aside traveling in times like this. we can enjoy much if we care less about the risks.
I absolutely agree with all of you, honestly. But … aren’t you just a little keen to see what a place like Mexico City looks like half-evacuated and traffic-free? I suppose it’s a job for more intrepid travelers than myself! But then, there are lot of places I wouldn’t risk going to, for various reasons.