Dyer

Jamaicans currently residing in Mexico are not in the danger zones where swine flu is rampant, a government spokesman has said.

Wilton Dyer, public relations officer at Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said the Jamaican embassy in Mexico is constantly monitoring its 50 citizens registered with the overseas mission.

Though Dyer could not detail the level of contact between the embassy and the Mexican Government, he said he was confident Jamaicans were adhering to health instructions.

The flu has seen more than 6,000 suspected infections in Mexico alone, not to mention hundreds more worldwide. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular human flu, and include fever, cough and sore throat.

Dyer said the Jamaican Government had not issued a travel advisory urging nationals to avoid Mexico, arguing that that decision was left to personal persuasion.

"This is a decision that they will have to make. When we are having hurricanes in Jamaica, you don't hear foreign embassies encouraging persons to return to their country," he said.

'People know how to react'

He added: "People would know how to react normally if there is an outbreak of a flu. The information from the embassy to deal with an epidemic wouldn't be different from what the ministry would tell them."

Despite no adverse reports about the welfare of Jamaicans in Mexico, Dyer said the foreign affairs ministry planned to step up dialogue with the Jamaican citizens there.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com