H1N1 Virus Update

For the latest information on the Swine (H1N1) flu, including countries affected, go to the World Health Organization (WHO) website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/ ; Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) website: http://www.netvibes.com/btc#Flu.

Cuba - On October 9 The U.S. Department of States issued an a travel alert to remind U.S. citizens of the quarantine measures imposed by the Government of Cuba in response to the 2009-H1N1 pandemic that may affect travel to Cuba. This Travel Alert expires on January 7, 2010. In April 2009, Cuba implemented a policy that allows it to quarantine arriving passengers who exhibit fever or flu-like symptoms. Although the overall percentage of U.S. citizens being quarantined remains low, the nature of the selection process makes it almost impossible to predict when a traveler may be placed into quarantine.

State Dept. Travel Warnings and Public Announcements

For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see http://http://travel.state.gov/travel

Sierra Leone - On October 9 the U.S. Embassy in Freetown issued the following Warden Message: "This Warden Message advises U.S. citizens of a heightened possibility of armed robbery in Freetown. Sierra Leone is a developing country recovering from a ten-year civil war that ended in 2002, and the majority of Sierra Leoneans are still grappling with the issues of poverty and lack of public resources that foster criminality. There has recently been an upsurge in armed robberies in Freetown as well as in other parts of Sierra Leone. In addition, business fraud schemes are also rampant and the perpetrators often target foreigners, including Americans. In light of the upsurge in armed robberies in Freetown, the Government of Sierra Leone has called in the military to assist the civil police under a provision called the Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP).

As a result, there will be joint police-military patrols. These patrols will set-up vehicle checkpoints at various locations in Freetown from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., effective October 7. If stopped, comply with all instructions and, when necessary, request that officers properly identify themselves. Remain calm, explain that you are a U.S. citizen, show your identification, but do not surrender your identification to anyone. If you are uncomfortable with officers' instructions, take note of the area where the checkpoint is set up and ask for permission to call the Embassy while you remain in your vehicle. …"