Senior band members travel to Mexico, despite swine flu warning
April 29, 2009
Filed under Band
Chasity Monschein
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
According to the Center for Disease Control, 141 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States and Americans are urged not to go to countries with swine flu outbreaks.
Swine flu is a respiratory virus that originated from pigs and is spread by infected individuals who cough or sneeze around another person.
“This is not bird flu, it is a different, new virus,” Deputy City Manager Keith Wright said. “It is actually a combination of viruses coming from humans, birds, and pigs.”
All individuals are at risk for catching swine flu, especially those who travel to areas with a high number of contaminated individuals like Mexico.
“The government is recommending that Americans avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico,” Wright said. “Anytime you place a large amount of people in a confined space it increases the odds of passing the virus from human to human.”
All individuals are at risk for catching swine flu, especially those who travel to areas with a high number of contaminated individuals like Mexico.
“The government is recommending that Americans avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico,” Wright said. “Anytime you place a large amount of people in a confined space it increases the odds of passing the virus from human to human.”
Despite the government warning, LHS band seniors still took the cruise trip along the Mexican coast on Monday.
“Parents were alerted last Friday and had an opportunity to opt out if they chose to and no one did,” Superintendent Roy Knight said. ”The trip had already been paid in full and was not reimbursable at that point.”
However, band members will not be docking on the Mexican coast because of Mexican swine flu outbreaks.
“As Carnival Cruise Lines explained to me, students will not be in Mexico at all,” Knight said. ”Our level of concern is as high for them there as it would be here.”
Now Texas has had 28 reported cases and one death and because of this, Wright said individuals should take precautions.
“People should wash their hands frequently in hot water with soap for 20 seconds and avoid touching their eyes and mouth,” Wright said. ”They should cover their sneeze or caught with a tissue and dispose of it properly.”
If an individual believes they have been exposed, they need to stay home.
“If anyone is sick or thinks they have been exposed they need to stay home,” Wright said. ”The incubation period of the virus is two to four days.”
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