TRAVEL ALERT: MEXICO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 046856 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CASC MEX SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT: MEXICO ¶1. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of 2009-H1N1 influenza. On April 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Although conditions in Mexico appear to be improving, that notice remains in effect. The CDC's notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizens resident in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico, provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza. The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Please check this site frequently for updates. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert dated April 28, 2009 and provides updated information on closings of schools and commercial venues in Mexico and U.S. consular operations throughout Mexico. This Travel Alert will be reviewed and updated as necessary, and is valid until further notice. ¶2. The World Health Organization (WHO),the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN),and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities. ¶3. The Government of Mexico restarted high school (grades 10-12) and university classes on Thursday, May 7. All other schools throughout Mexico from kindergarten through middle-school level (up to and including grade 9) will reopen on Monday, May 11. Museums and most tourist attractions are reopening on a staggered basis; please check with the site directly for hours. The Mexico City government allowed restaurants to reopen on Wednesday, May 6. Other Mexico City establishments where large numbers of the public gather including bars, discos, night clubs, movie theaters, gyms, and convention centers reopened on May 7. ¶4. Effective Wednesday, May 6, American citizen services resumed normal operations at the U.S. Embassy and at consulates nationwide. All nonimmigrant visa operations at consular posts in Mexico will resume normal operations on Monday, May 11; some nonimmigrant visa applicants will be seen on Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8. All nonimmigrant visa applicants will be contacted directly by the scheduling service about their rescheduled appointments. Immigrant visa appointments will resume normal operations on Monday, May 18. Further information on rescheduling immigrant visa appointments is available on Ciudad Juarez's web page at http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/. ¶5. The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not 2009-H1N1 influenza. Any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Mexico City medical authorities are urging people to avoid hospitals and clinics unless they have a medical emergency, since hospitals can be centers of infection; instead, those with health concerns are encouraged to stay home and call their physicians to avoid potential exposure. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following links: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/sacs_medical_info .html (Spanish) http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_medical_ info.html (E nglish). ¶6. For additional information, please consult the State Department's website at www.travel.state.gov, the CDC STATE 00046856 002 OF 003 ¶1. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to website at www.cdc.gov, or the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int. The U.S.-based call center for U.S. citizens can be reached at 1-888-407-4747 from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444. The U.S. Embassy will post additional information as it becomes available at: http://mexico.usembassy.gov. American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov ¶7. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy's internet address is http://mexico.usembassy.gov Consulates: Ciudad Juarez: Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel. (52)(656) 227-3000. http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/ Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500. http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812- ¶4402. http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700. http://merida.usconsulate.gov Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 047-3100. http://monterrey.usconsulate.gov Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150. http://nogales.usconsulate.gov Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512. http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/ Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400. http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html Consular Agencies: Acapulco: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 - local 14, telephone (52)(744) 484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556. Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624) 143-3566. Canczn: Plaza Caracol two, second level, no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272. Ciudad Acuqa: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro, telephone (52)(877) 772-8661 Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juarez between Melgar and 5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone (52)(987) 872-4574. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100. Mazatlan: Hotel Playa Mazatlan, Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (52)(669) 916-5889. Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcala no. 407, interior 20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951) 516-2853. Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel. (878) 782-5586. Playa del Carmen: "The Palapa," Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (52)(984) 873-0303. Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (52)(322) 222-0069. Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa, Colonia Rodrmguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923 - 9331 San Luis Potosm: Edificio "Las Terrazas", Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone: STATE 00046856 003 OF 003 ¶1. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to (52)(444) 811-7802/7803. San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or (52)(415) 152-0068. ¶8. Minimize considered. CLINTON