Mexican tourist fears swine flu may stop him from leaving Fredericton
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 12:13 PM AT
CBC News
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A Mexican tourist visiting relatives in Fredericton says he's worried the swine flu outbreak may make it harder for him to get back home next month.
Ottawa is advising Canadians they may want to forgo all non-essential travel to Mexico, although there are no restrictions on people travelling between the two countries.
Victor Armando Chee Contreras said he's worried that might change soon considering the concern over swine flu.
Chee came to Fredericton from Los Cabos in Mexico's Baja Peninsula on Sunday to visit family. Before he left for Canada, his relatives in the New Brunswick capital were worried about his health.
"Before I come, [my cousin] called me a couple of time and told me, 'Victor, are you [feeling] good? … Be honest with me, because if you're sick it's a problem,'" Chee said.
"I [am] 100 per cent. Actually when I fly, I pull the mask, I take care everything it says on the TV and the radio. I wash my hands, no shake the hand, no kiss. It's all I can do."
Life not normal in Mexico
While Chee is doing all he can now to stay safe from swine flu, he is hearing from his family that life is anything but normal back in Mexico.
Before he left, his daughter and son were told to stay home from their university and college classes in Los Cabos. In Mexico City soldiers are in the street handing out free masks.
Chee said his family is worried about whether he can make his return trip to Mexico next month.
"It's a worry, not for me because you know, I'm safe. But it's a worry that they won't let me pass across the border," Chee said.
Dr. Eilish Cleary, the province's chief medical officer of health, said there are no plans to bring in border restrictions for tourists or for Canadians returning from Mexico.
"The advice for those at this point of time will be the same for everybody else: If you're sick, stay home, or go see your doctor as usual," Cleary said.
"If you're not sick, well then it's business as usual."
In the meantime, Chee said he's following all the recommended precautions and he's keeping in touch with his family in Mexico to make sure they're doing the same.
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