Combating Swine Flu: Global Citizen Insurance Offers Tips to Travelers

Over one million American businesspeople, expatriates, students studying abroad and vacationers are already in Mexico. For those travelers, the Global Citizen Insurance offers five basic tips:

Do your homework. Smart travelers should take time to understand the nature of Swine Flu, including its symptoms and transmission. (READ MORE)

Know the hospital emergency rooms in your destination. This is a step that people rarely take the time to consider, but understanding the local healthcare landscape in a city such as Mexico City can be important, especially in an emergency. As a client you have online and mobile resoureces to identify reliable emergency rooms throughout Mexico and in Mexico City neighborhoods typically frequented by U.S. visitors. You don’t want to rely on the hotel concierge for a recommendation on a good doctor or hospital.

Understand what medications are needed. Tamiflu® or Relenza® are the drugs of choice. Tamiflu is not available commercially but has been stockpiled by the government in adequate supplies and is being dispensed via large hospitals. Relenza has been commercially available in Mexico but demand may exceed supply. As a Global Citizen International Health Insurance client you have access to drug translations and interpreters via mobile device, web or 24 hour telephone asssitance.

Know the language, at least a little bit. In an emergency situation, a language barrier can be tragic. If you don’t speak the local language, have a translation tool or resource with you.
Don’t panic. The outbreak of Swine Flu has garnered international media attention. Even though the Centers for Disease Control have advised against non-essential travel to Mexico, stay informed and keep you perspective – you might not have to cancel that trip just yet. Sign up for travel alerts, they can be sent via email or SMS Text Message.

“Knowledge is the great equalizer; everyone who is traveling to Mexico City should immerse themselves in facts and not simply listen to the rumors,” said Angelo Masciantonio, director and CEO, HTH Worldwide. “There are numerous technologies and tools that will help you remain informed about the true nature of this outbreak. If a traveler does encounter swine flu or other issues while abroad, it’s critical that they receive high quality healthcare,

Remember as a Global Citizen Insurance client you have access to a global network of more than 5,000 hospitals and English-speaking doctors in 180 countries. This network includes twenty-one hospitals and 84 doctors in Mexico City alone.