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Concerns about Swine Flu Addressed by U.S. Travel Association
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Travel Association is taking a leading role in addressing concerns about swine flu. This is a fluid situation that will require frequent updates.
Governments and opinion leaders around the world must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity. U.S. Travel, and our members, is willing to work with all aspects of the U.S. government and media to share relevant information with travelers and manage swine flu concerns in a measured and responsible fashion.
Following are key talking points:
Experts: Cause for Concern, Not Panic
• Travelers, like all citizens, should heed the advice of experts when determining how best to manage health concerns.
• According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine Influenza (swine flu) should not discourage people from traveling to or within the United States.
• The top US disease control official rejected as unwarranted an EU warning that discouraged Europeans from traveling to the United States due to the swine flu. “At this point, I would not put out a travel restriction or recommendation against coming to the United States," said Richard Besser, acting head of the CDC.
• According to the CDC, individuals should take common sense steps to protect themselves, including: “wash your hands…get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.”
Inform Travelers Responsibly, Without Discouraging Economic Activity
• Governments and opinion leaders around the world must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity.
• Unnecessary panic has the potential to paralyze travel and further America’s ongoing economic crisis.
• Recent health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian flu, provide useful guidance as governments, opinion leaders and travelers consider the appropriate response to swine flu.
• The 2003 SARS outbreak, in which 75 deaths were reported worldwide yet more than 750 stories were written in the New York Times and Washington Post alone, was an example of an “infodemic” rather than an “epidemic.”
• According to the Asian Development Bank, the cost of SARS in terms of lost GDP for East and Southeast Asia was $18 billion, primarily through downturns in tourist arrivals. Tourist arrivals in the most affected economies declined by 20 – 70 percent in April 2003, one month following the announcement of the SARS pandemic. Lesser affected Asian countries experienced declines of 15 – 35 percent, leading to a loss of nearly $15 billion in economic impact.
Travel Industry Is an Important Resource to Government, Consumers
• We stand ready to assist the U.S. government and health experts in communicating critical information to travelers.
• The U.S. Travel Association has contacted all relevant agencies with an offer to help “in any way needed.” These agencies include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, State and Transportation.
U.S. Travel Association Contact Info:
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20005-3934
202.408.8422
Fax 202.408.1255
Swine Flu Update
April 28, 2009
While the media continues to aggressively pursue the swine flu story, it is critical that government leaders and our industry communicate the facts in a measured and responsible way. We believe the Obama Administration has taken a measured approach to date and appropriately countered those who might discourage travel to or within the United States.
We have updated the talking points (see attached) to guide your comments to the media, and encourage you to share them with your members. Thanks to everyone who has sent information to help us stay abreast of this fluid situation.
In addition, attached you’ll find an Oxford Economics assessment of the impact of the SARS scare on the Asian economy in the months following the outbreak. It is sobering evidence of the need for us to remain vigilant in dampening any tendencies toward hysteria.
Latest Information
- The World Health Organization reiterated today that there are no travel restrictions related to the swine flu recommended.
-The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. now stands at 64, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of those, a majority are associated with one high school in New York.
What Health Experts Are Saying
- “Travel restrictions are unnecessary and based on political, not medical considerations.”
- Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization;
April 28, 2009
- “[Experts] recommend not closing borders or restricting travel… With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effect in stopping the movement of this virus.”
- Dr. Keiji Fukuda, Deputy Director-General, World Health Organization;
"The name of the game is to slow transmission until a well-matched vaccine can be made and distributed. I am fairly optimistic we can do that."
-Dr. Ira Longini, Hutchison Research Center, April 28, 2009
Useful Websites
- Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/?cid=swineFlu_outbreak_001
- United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Emergency Response Network: www.sos.travel
What U.S. Travel Is Doing
- U.S. Travel has contacted all relevant federal agencies and Congressional committees to offer our assistance in informing industry, travelers and international travel partners.
- The U.S. Travel website now has a special page dedicated to the swine flu that includes the latest talking points and links to the relevant websites at health organizations: http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/swine_flu.html
- U.S. Travel is creating briefing materials for the entire travel community, including:
- Latest comments from medical experts on travel;
-The economic impact of closing the southern border and/or preventing visitors into the United States from other destinations;
- The economic impact of declines in travel to and within the United States if we were to experience outcomes similar to SARS or Avian flu; and
- A catalogue of confusing messages from foreign governments, media and others to demonstrate the need for a U.S. infrastructure to bypass filters and speak directly to foreign travelers.
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