Posted on 04/30/2009 6:22:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Pigs can’t fly yet, but the swine flu is still a reason to stay out of the sky.
At least, that is, if you ask Vice President Joe Biden. And most Southwest Floridians aren’t. Nor are their travel agents. Or their airlines. Or the rest of the federal government.
“I would tell members of my family — and I have — that I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” Biden said on NBC’s “Today” show Thursday morning.
Only problem is, Biden’s advice is not in line with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official message, which is for citizens to only avoid non-essential travel to Mexico. Pundits quickly tacked the comment up as another off-the-cuff remark, which Biden has a reputation for, but travel industry officials were decidedly more upset, with one saying the comment bordered on “fear mongering.”
“To suggest that people not fly at this stage of things is a broad brush stroke,” said Tim Smith, a spokesman for American Airlines.
Either way, though, a possible Biden gaffe wasn’t going to keep Shari Munger of Sarasota from visiting Chicago on Thursday out of Southwest Florida International Airport. Munger, who said she was in her early 40s, said she felt the whole swine flu thing was being blown out of proportion.
“Not at all worried,” Munger said. “I think the media has a tendency to exaggerate things.”
But there are people taking precautions, feeling, like Biden, that confined spaces result in pandemics.
“It’s not just going to Mexico, if you’re in a confined aircraft and one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft,” Biden said, adding that other transportation options may be worth a look.
Before flying to Nebraska to see family, Bonita Springs resident Erin Cavill, 23, and San Carlos resident Scott Cavill, 46, said they won’t be taking any protective masks with them on the plane. They said they had heard from family members who flew from Southwest Florida International earlier in the day that people have been wearing them on planes.
“There’s not enough cases of it to worry,” said Scott Cavill.
In Mexico, however, there are enough cases. Enough to cause U.S. cruiselines to cancel their voyages and even change their itineraries, foregoing any previously-planned Mexico stops in favor of other destinations or an additional day at sea.
According to the Princess Cruises’ Web site, it had suspended calls to Mexican ports through the few remaining trips of the spring season, which concludes next month. Six Princess ships are currently scheduled for calls in Mexican ports through May, as they reposition to Alaska for the summer season.
According to Carnival Cruise’s Web site, all current sailings and voyages departing on Thursday, April 30 through Monday, May 4 have been cancelled.
Though Naples travel agency officials said they have been receiving calls from customers expressing concern, they said none were ready to ditch their travels plans, to Mexico or elsewhere.
“At this point, we have not had any cancellations or people calling to ask if they should go or not go,” said Karen Pickrum, director of sales and marketing at Betty Maclean Travel Inc.
Most of those still headed to Mexico are doing so for family reasons, Preferred Travel of Naples travel specialist Sandi Hamann said, adding that people are generally not choosing to go to Mexico in the next two weeks.
Lois Tessauro doesn’t care about a trip to Mexico, though. At least not on Thursday, when she was headed for a flight to Pittsburgh. Tessauro said her respiratory problems, any reported cases of flu or any vice presidential gaffes aren’t going to keep her from visiting her sister and son on their birthdays.
“I’m a little bit concerned. I had a mask, but I couldn’t find it,” Tessauro said from her wheelchair as she weaved through a rope line to a check-in counter. “But I have a big handkerchief in here and I might have to get it out if I hear anyone cough.”
I think the Goverment knows alot more than they are saying. With the economy so bad,if the people really knew what was going on,no one would go anywhere crippling the economy more...So it’s all about money..not about human lives.
My I feel so secure with a cool headed Vice Pres like Biddie setting in as first in line for the Kingfish’s job.
You can’t believe a word the government says.
I doubt it.
Insurance for what? He’s turning out to be a serious liability. I think the only way he’s going to survive the 4 year term is if they keep hiding him away in the cellar for long stretches of time. And I think his next cellar stint is starting right about now.
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