Swine Flu: I AM FINE.

So in response to all the people who've e-mailed me worried about swine flu, here's an update. I'll just keep putting updates on here, as it's easier than e-mailing all of you. (Yes mom, I'm calling you soon.) 

1) Mexico City is a long, expensive flight away from La Paz, which is the nearest airport and a 4 hour drive from here. Puerto San Carlos is VERY isolated. We haven't heard about any cases of swine flu in Baja California Sur yet. (So, if you're in New York, you're closer to swine flu than I am.) 

2) As of right now, SFS is evaluating what they need to do to keep us safe. There is a doctor coming this afternoon to check up on anyone who has even a little bit of a cold. They're working on getting people's flights changed so as not to go through Mexico City (I'm going through LA, so that's not a problem) and our presentations at schools in town have been postponed until after we're gone. They're going to keep working on this and are currently in meetings to decide how to proceed, but the bottom line is not to worry. 

The only thing I'm worried about is randomly coughing as I go through customs and not being allowed back home. (I am not sick. I'm tired, but that's probably cause I have 3 exams a paper and 2 presentations--oops, now 1 presentation--this week.) 

SFS website about Swine Flu: http://www.fieldstudies.org/pages/6088_swine_flu_update.cfm

The US media is really good at freaking people out, so take everything they say with a grain of salt. 

WHO is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions. As long as I can get into LA and from LA to Boston next week, I'm happy.  (from http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_26/en/index.html) 

I feel perfectly safe here and am not worried. You shouldn't be either. We're taking lots of precautions and will do everything we can to make sure that I don't bring back any swine flu souvenirs. 

Love and virus-free hugs

Emma

P.S. I posted pictures from our amazing 5 day road trip on Picasa. They're more interesting than Swine Flu.