David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

FCO Logo
« Afghanistan: Truth... | Main | Out of Iraq, Back... »
Monday 04 May, 2009

Swine Flu: Don't Say Don't Panic

This is a good moment to underline the efforts to ensure British people spending the bank holiday at home, but also those travelling abroad, are not affected by swine flu.  Our website has seen an increase of over 100% in traffic (without crashing).  The dedicated Consular Crisis Centre has an advice line on 0845 850 2829.  Our own Department of Health are co-ordinating our response and have seconded extra staff to Mexico.

Posted at 17:25 04 May 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[12]

  • Share this with:
Comments:

Of course we are at home because you will not let us travel to Mexico when the WHO say there is no reason to stop overseas travel and most countries follow their advice. Were do we get our conflicting advice from?

Posted by Kev C on May 05, 2009 at 10:17 PM BST #

Trying to put aside the obvious frustration felt by those of us still looking forward to traveling to Mexico in the near future but are in limbo as a result of the FCO decision, what would really help is to understand the evidence, information and reasoning upon which the FCO made and will subsequently review the decision on non essential travel. In addition there is no visibility of timescales around a review of the decision or even if the situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis by the FCO, that would enable us to make slightly informed decision. Help us please to understand.

Posted by Mark B on May 06, 2009 at 12:37 PM BST #

Stop all travel to the USA as it can been seen as disrimination against the mexicans, when mexico had the numbers the USA currently has - the FCO stopped all non essential travel. lots of brits do not want to travel to the USA and are sat waiting for the FCO to restrict travel but they wont will they - nothing at all to do with health of the british at all - think about it!

Posted by missc on May 08, 2009 at 11:10 AM BST #

It seems like the FCO are a joke! Why are there still flight to the U.S when there are more swine flu caeses there ???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Posted by paul on May 09, 2009 at 01:06 PM BST #

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza AH1N1 virus. Today, global travel is commonplace and large numbers of people move around the world for business and leisure. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.

Posted by alex on May 09, 2009 at 08:17 PM BST #

In agreement with Mark B, could the FCO please provide us with more details on why the FCO is restricting travel against the advice of the WHO? I am due to fly to Mexico soon 4th June but find myself in limbo, waiting for an FCO decision with no option to cancel myself without incurring a penalty. I wholly agree with the airlines decision to follow the advice of the FCO but without an explanation, forecasted de-restriction date or confirmation that the situation is under review, myself and fellow would-be travellers find ourselves frustratingly ill informed. I would add that the airlines appear to be doing their best to reassure what is a growing number of disappointed, upset and even angry travellers see TripAdvisor forums! but they ultimately cannot speculate on the decisions resting with the FCO. Why the restriction? What time scale are we to expect? Thank you.

Posted by Neil W on May 11, 2009 at 06:05 PM BST #

Im glad to see im not the only one annoyed an confused at the FCO advice, which conflicts with the WHO who state Travel Restrictions will do nothing to stop the spread. There is a distinct lack of information coming out of Mexico about cases .The Mexicans have returned to work,school and social activities.They are trying to supress the virus whilst still trying to scrape a meagre living , supported by Tourism . The current number of cases in the USA is higher than Mexico and yet there are no travel restrictions, to or from.BA have continued throughout to travel to Mexico.What exactly is ESSENTIAL travel ? Is there any danger of some consistent advice , It seems with the numbers of visitors to Mexico and the total number of cases,youre more likely to get TB in the Uk than the Virus in Mexico . I can understand the need to protect Uk residents but this is clearly more a case of the FCo covering thier butts.

Posted by SteveS on May 13, 2009 at 06:09 PM BST #

why is the FCO recommending against all but essential travel to mexico when the WHO isn't? further more, please explain why it's unsafe to visit mexico but no risk travelling to the USA? the USA has more than 40 more cases of H1N1 than mexico, thats sounds like a far riskier place to travel to me, please, please explain

Posted by mark on May 14, 2009 at 05:07 PM BST #

Why is the FCO going against WHO advice on travel restrictions and in light of the latest data from WHO how can you justify continuing with the advisory against travel to Mexico when the USA has many, many more cases????

Posted by Flipflop_man on May 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM BST #

Why have the restrictions on travel to mexico not been lifted? WHO do not recommend travel restrictions so why has the UK taken this stance. USA has percentage wise as many if not more swine flu cases as Mexico but you have no restrictions there. There are many travellers being left in no mans land by their tour operators about their forthcoming holidays. Please if the restrictions are to remain at least have the decency to let us all know so that our tour operators allow us to re organise our holidays without just a couple of days notice. Thanks

Posted by Lorraine Pugh on May 15, 2009 at 01:08 PM BST #

ANSWERS PLEASE- Instead of just fobbing everyone off with the excuse that the FCO just publish guidlines and it is upto the travel operators on whether to cancel flights etc Tell me this, why do you advise agaisnt travel to Mexico but not the US where there is now around 2000 more cases???? or do we already know the answer! Money, you wouldnt dare suggest flights to the US as it would cause outrage! Give us answers as to when the situation may change.

Posted by Rob C on May 15, 2009 at 01:35 PM BST #

Thanks alot David Miliband i can't go to mexico incase i catch a mild form of flu.

Posted by Ian on May 15, 2009 at 02:12 PM BST #

Post a Comment:
  • HTML Syntax: NOT allowed