Influenza Warden Message (copy)
April 28, 2009
Influenza Warden Message
Update on Flu Outbreak in Mexico – Center for Disease Control Issues Travel Notice for Mexico; All Schools Closed and Nonessential Consular and Non-Immigrant Visa Services in Mexico Suspended until May 6
The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended on April 27, 2009 that U.S. citizens defer all nonessential travel to Mexico because of the outbreak of H1N1 “swine” influenza. The CDC Travel Notice which advises U.S. citizens of the health risks that may be involved with travel to Mexico and provides a list of precautions travelers and U.S. citizen residents in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found at the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert that can be found at http://travel.state.gov.
On April 27, the Government of Mexico announced that as a precautionary measure, all schools throughout the country from kindergarten through university level will remain closed until May 6. All government-sponsored events involving large crowds in Mexico City have also been canceled, and museums and most tourist attractions are closed.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and all U.S. Consulates throughout the country have suspended all non-essential services to the public until May 6. Consular services for U.S. citizens will be limited to emergency assistance and to citizenship applications (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBA). Notarial and other routine services will not be available; anyone with passport or CRBA appointments is encouraged but not required to reschedule to a later date. Additionally, Federal Benefits Units are requesting all persons to postpone interviews on Social Security claims. The Embassy will monitor this situation continuously during the week and advise before May 6 if this suspension needs to be extended.
The Consulate General’s non-immigrant visa unit has suspended all nonimmigrant visa appointments until May 6. The call center will reschedule all nonimmigrant visa appointments which have been made between April 29 and May 5.. For non-immigrant visa applicants, our call center will call or e-mail applicants to reschedule appointments. Alternatively, applicants may re-schedule non-immigrant visa appointments without being charged by calling 01-800-719-2525. If non-immigrant visa operations need to be suspended beyond May 6, we will inform the public as soon as possible.
Immigrant visa operations will continue as scheduled this week. It is standard procedure at all times for immigrant visa applicants to receive a full medical exam before their appointment at the Consulate General. A decision on immigrant visa appointments the week of May 4 will be announced separately on April 28, 2009.
Operations at the U.S. consular agencies throughout Mexico may be curtailed; several are closing to the public entirely for walk-in services, seeing the public by appointment only.
These are precautionary measures only, taken to best assure the well-being of our clients and staff.
The U.S. Consulate General reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not “swine flu”; any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Although the U.S. Consulate General 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 link:
http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/medical-listing-content.html
For additional information, please consult the State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov, the CDC 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 from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444. The U.S. Embassy will also post additional information as it becomes available at: http://mexico.usembassy.gov.
American Citizens Services
U.S. Consulate General
Paseo de la Victoria 3650
32543 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua CP 32543
Tel: (011) (52) 656-227-3000
Hours: 8:00a.m. to 4:45p.m.
For after-hours emergencies only, call 044-656-327-7877 for the duty officer.
e-mail: CDJAmericancitizens@state.gov;
website: http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/