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Update on Influenza

Update May 29
We are delighted to tell you that 2,276 members and guests have been enjoying a well-earned vacation and glorious weather at Royal Resorts this week. Many of them have taken the time to send a message to their fellow members telling them to come down to Cancun and enjoy their vacation. You can see what they are saying by clicking on the following links.

Cancun News

SEDETUR Public Release

We hope to welcome many more of you to your home away from home in the coming weeks.

In recent days, airlines, travel agencies and cruise lines have all expressed their confidence in Mexico in the wake of the flu scare and the numbers of visitors returning to the Mexican Caribbean is increasing.

Cozumel welcomed its first cruise ship in almost a month on Wednesday and 26 cruise ships are expected to visit the island in June. Cozumel is the most important cruise ship port of call in the Caribbean and 90 percent of the islanders earn their living from tourism, a situation echoed throughout the state of Quintana Roo, where the decline in the number of visitors is causing economic hardship for thousands of families.

In other local news, fishing tournaments are being staged in Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen and Akumal is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend with a series of events including sport fishing, diving, a photography exhibition and live music.

The Mexican Caribbean will also be hosting an important World Environment Day meeting next week. On June 4 and 5, academics, environmentalists, private sector representatives and politicians from all over the world will meet in Cozumel and Xcaret to try and hammer out a series of agreements that will be presented at the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change later this year. The event will be transmitted via satellite to 180 countries.

Click on the following links to read the latest updates from the Mexican Tourism Board and the Cancun Convention & Visitors Board.

Earlier week, The Quintana Roo Health Department declared the state free of Influenza A (H1N1) due to the fact that no new cases have been registered in the last 12 days. Moreover, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova also commented that the outbreak in Mexico is under control; the number of new cases has declined steadily and only 2 were reported on May 21.

In other news, President Felipe Calderon launched Vive Mexico, a global campaign to promote the nation and bring visitors back to enjoy its endless natural attractions, historical treasures, colorful culture and the warm hospitality for which it is so famous.

Click to read two articles by US journalists wholeheartedly recommending a visit to Mexico.

Article 1

Article 2

The World Health Organization is reporting that there are now over 15,510 Influenza A (H1N1) cases in 48 countries around the world. The Center for Disease Control puts the number of cases in the United States at 8,975.

You can see what members and guests are saying by clicking on the following links.

Restaurants, bars, shopping centers, marinas and tour companies are operating normally throughout the area and the archaeological sites and theme parks are open as usual. Furthermore, in its most recent update, the State Tourism Board focused on a number of upcoming events in the area, including fishing tournaments in Puerto Morelos, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and the Mayan Sacred Crossing from Xcaret to Cozumel.

You can read the update by clicking on the following link.

In other news, the Mexican Tourism Board and the Quintana Roo State Government are launching a campaign to inform visitors that it is safe to travel to Mexico and to welcome them back. The flu scare has caused serious damage to the industry, putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy and affecting the livelihoods of millions of people throughout the country.

Attending the World Health Organization meeting in Geneva, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said yesterday that the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico is now under control. As of May 19, the country had recorded 3,734 cases and the number of new reports had dropped to one a day by May 15. It is important to put this into perspective by remembering that Mexico is a vast country with a population of 110 million. The majority of flu cases were clustered in Mexico City and neighboring states in the central highlands; 89 per cent of all the country’s municipal districts reported no cases of Influenza A whatsoever.

Mr. Cordova also urged G7 countries to lift trade and travel restrictions imposed on Mexico during the flu outbreak, saying that their positive action would send a clear and powerful message to the world. He concluded by saying that international travelers should have no doubts about coming to Mexico, and that the country is waiting to welcome them with open arms.
In other news, the Mexico City Committee for Epidemiological Monitoring announced today that it was lifting the health warning about Influenza A (H1N1), returning the alert to green or normal. No new cases of flu have been reported in the city in the last seven days.

The World Health Organization is reporting that there are now over 11,034 Influenza A (H1N1) cases in 41 countries around the world. The Center for Disease Control puts the number of cases in the United States at 5,710.

Dear Members & Guests,

As of today, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) lifted its recommendation against non-essential travel to Mexico. As a result of the CDC’s decision, the US State Department’s Travel Alert relating to the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak is no longer in effect. The British Foreign Office has also formally withdrawn any travel restrictions to Mexico, paving the way for the return of visitors.

In another sign of growing confidence, several countries have also announced the resumption of normal flights to Mexico. The WHO continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders. There are no restrictions on air travel between the US, Canada and Cancun airport.

Life in Cancun and the Riviera Maya is normal, children are at school, restaurants, bars and shops are open. Trips have resumed to the area’s famous archaeological sites and nature parks and the full range of water sports and boat trips is available – it is business as usual here.

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are safe places to vacation, but many tourists have sadly cancelled their vacations because of the media hype surrounding the flu scare.

This week almost 2,000 members and guests have been enjoying themselves at our six resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya. Many of them have been sending messages to fellow members recommending that they come and enjoy their weeks as planned (see Member testimonials below)

According to the World Health Organization as of May 15 there are 4,296 cases in the United States and 2,446 in the whole of Mexico – of which only 11 are in the State of Quintana Roo. All the state’s 11 cases have been successfully treated. The decisive measures taken by the Mexican government have been widely praised by health authorities around the world.

Influenza A (H1N1) is detectable and treatable and the symptoms seem to be a lot less severe than previously feared, in fact they are not dissimilar to seasonal flu. Furthermore, scientists have discovered that the flu virus does not seem to thrive in warm and humid climates, like that of Cancun and Riviera Maya. Simple hygiene measures including washing your hands regularly and using alcohol-based anti-bacterial hand wash seem to be very effective in preventing the spread of flu.

We look forward to seeing you soon in your home away from home.

Click here for further information about the flu outbreak in Mexico and the world.

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Related External Links

Armando Millet Vales

Corporate Operations Manager

Update May 13, 2009

For those of you who are following the news and wondering about your Mexican home away from home, we would like to give you this update.

The Mexican Caribbean is ready to welcome its visitors back. Restaurants, bars, shopping centers, marinas and other attractions are operating normally throughout the state. Trips have resumed to the area’s famous archaeological sites and nature parks and a variety of boat trips and water sports is available.

Click here to read the latest update from the State Tourist Board.

May also marks the return of two visitors from the natural world to the Mexican Caribbean. Whale shark season starts this week as these gentle giants gather to feed in the waters off the coast of northern Quintana Roo, and local biologists and hotel personnel have already started to patrol the beaches on the look out for nesting sea turtles. Royal Resorts has been participating in the annual turtle protection program since 1985.

The Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau is confirming that a number of events scheduled to take place in the state during the next couple of weeks are going ahead as planned. They include the Cozumel Sport Fishing Tournament on May 15, the Mayan Sacred Crossing, a pilgrimage that follows the route taken by the ancient Maya from the port of Pole (now Xcaret) to the holy island of Cozumel, on May 21, and the Cross Channel swim between Cancun and Isla Mujeres on May 30.

Click here to read the most recent update from the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In another sign that national life has returned to normal, thousands of Cancun soccer fans converged on the city stadium last night to watch local team Atlante defeat fellow Mexican team Cruz Azul in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League. With this victory, the team also qualified for the Soccer Club World Cup to be held in Abu Dhabi in December. Baseball fans also turned out to support the Tigres de Quintana Roo, the Cancun team who are playing at home this week.

The Quintana Roo Ministry of Health reported today that there are only 11 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the state. The authorities continue to monitor the situation and additional sanitary measures have been implemented throughout the state by hotels, restaurants, schools, government offices and in the private sector to protect the health of visitors and local people alike.

The Federal and State governments also announced a package of measures including investment, credits and fiscal incentives, a temporary employment program and a promotion campaign to help the tourism industry, which has been so badly affected by the flu scare.

In other parts of Mexico
Health Secretary José Angel Cordova Villalobos said today that the number of Influenza A (H1N1) cases currently stands at 2,446, in a country with a population of 110 million. Eighty-nine percent of the country’s municipios or districts have no reported cases.

In recent days, Mr. Cordova and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have been commended by global health experts for their decisive action in tackling the outbreak and alerting other countries.

The Center for Disease Control put the number of confirmed Influenza A H1N1 cases in the United States at 3,009 on May 12. Only 10 percent of the cases detected had a recent history of travel to Mexico. Canada has 280 cases and the WHO reported that there are now 5,728 cases in 33 countries around the world.

The WHO continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders.

Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates

We look forward to seeing you soon. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Click here to see some of our members and guests enjoying their vacation at Royal Resorts this week.

Armando Millet Vales

Corporate Operations Manager

Here in the Mexican Caribbean, restaurants, bars and shopping centers are open in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and all other parts of the state. The region’s famous archaeological sites and nature parks are operating normally and visitors can enjoy a full range of water sports, island cruises, dolphin swims, adventure trips and more. As of today, 1,771 members and guests are enjoying their vacation at Royal Resorts.

The Quintana Roo Ministry of Health reported yesterday that there are only 10 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the state, all of whom are receiving medical care. In other news, after days of meetings with federal, state and municipal government officials and the private sector, Quintana Roo State Governor Felix Gonzalez Canto is expected to announce a package of economic measures to help the tourism industry which has been badly affected by the flu scare.

Click here to read an update from the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The World Health Organization reported that the number of confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) around the world currently stands at 4,694 in 30 countries, 2,618 of which are in the United States. Last week, Center for Disease Control experts and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano noted that the flu strain appeared to be no more dangerous than regular seasonal flu.

The WHO continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders.

Scientists working at the British Health Laboratory announced late last week that they had mapped the genetic code of the H1N1 virus. This will help epidemiologists understand how the virus operates and identify the parts that could be used to manufacture a vaccine in the next few months.

Click on the following link to read the complete article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/08/swine-flu-genetic-code-tally/

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales

Corporate Operations Manager

Dear Members & Guests,

Millions of people returned to work yesterday throughout Mexico as government offices, factories, shops and restaurants reopened for business. Six million students in higher education resumed normal classes and elementary schools throughout the country are being readied for younger pupils who return next Monday. Similarly, bars, discos, theaters and cinemas are reopening, subject to certain limitations on the number of people they can admit. Restrictions have also been lifted in Mexico City, the center of the outbreak, and life is returning to normal.

The Mexican Health Secretary José Angel Cordova Villalobos said that the flu epidemic in Mexico appears to be waning; testing has improved and the virus is proving much easier to treat.

Restaurants, bars and shopping centers are open in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and all other parts of the Mexican Caribbean. The region’s famous archaeological sites and nature parks are operating normally and visitors can enjoy the full range of water sports, island cruises, dolphin swims, adventure trips and more. As of today, 2,000 members and guests are enjoying their vacation at Royal Resorts.

In other news, Quintana Roo State Governor Felix Gonzalez Canto met with representatives of the Florida-based cruise ship industry yesterday. After the meeting, he announced they intend to resume normal service to Cozumel and Majahual as soon as the restrictions on sailing to Mexican ports have been lifted. The President of the Florida & Caribbean Cruise Ship Association has written to President Obama asking him lift the ban. Mexican tourism has been badly affected in the wake of the flu epidemic and the federal government has announced a serious of measures, including fiscal incentives to help the industry.

Click on the following link to read what one leading travel industry commentator in the United States has to say about the impact of media coverage of the virus

http://www.travelpulse.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=55451

The World Health Organization continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders.

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales
Corporate Operations Manager

Flu Update, May 6, 2 p.m.

Dear Members & Guests,

Throughout the Mexico, restaurants, shops, government offices and businesses resumed operations today in a sign that the country is gradually returning to normal. Colleges and high schools will reopen tomorrow while elementary schools are being cleaned and inspected in preparation for the return of pupils on Monday. The signs are encouraging and appear to show that the flu outbreak is on the wane.

The nation’s archaeological sites and museums reopened today. This means that tours are now available to major attractions in the Yucatan such as the World Heritage Site of Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba Ek Balam and Uxmal.

The Quintana Roo Health Secretary reported that 11 cases of Influenza A H1N1 have been detected in the state as part of routine flu screening. All patients were given antiviral drugs immediately, made a full recovery and are at home.

The World Health Organization is reporting a total of 1,658 cases around the world. It continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders.

In the United States where 642 cases have now been confirmed, the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius noted that the flu virus is milder than initially feared. Similarly, the CDC is now recommending that children testing positive for the virus should be kept at home rather than closing schools and disrupting class schedules. Dr. Richard Bresser, Head of the Center for Disease Control also commented that "The first definitive case of H1N1 was not diagnosed in Mexico, but in San Diego. So at the time that the outbreak was first diagnosed, it was already in the U.S."

See the following links for the full articles:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599189582000/print

Flu Update, May 5, 2 p.m.

Dear Members & Guests,

No new cases of Influenza A (H1N1) virus have been reported in Quintana Roo to date.

In other news, Mexican President Felipe Calderon spoke to the nation last night in a televised broadcast about the emergency measures implemented to prevent the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico. He praised health workers, authorities and citizens for their efforts and said that the country would gradually return to normal. After a meeting with the state governors and the Mayor of Mexico City, it was decided that universities, colleges and high schools throughout the country will open on May 7 and elementary schools and kindergartens on May 11. Offices, factories, stores, restaurants and other businesses closed during the nationwide slowdown are expected to resume business tomorrow. Museums, churches and convention centers in the capital will reopen on Thursday.

The President also announced measures to help reactivate the economy after the flu outbreak and promised special incentives for the tourism sector which has been severely affected.

The Health Secretary for Mexico City said today that the number of patients hospitalized in the capital as a result of Influenza A (H1N1) virus has fallen to 68 and that no deaths have been reported in the last five days; the number of new cases reported is also on the wane. The World Health Organization has reported a total of 1,490 cases in 21 countries.

In the United States, encouraged by signs that the virus may not be as serious as initially thought, health officials began to discuss the possibility of scaling back some of the measures taken to halt its spread. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano also said that officials are cautiously optimistic that this virus will be no more severe than a normal seasonal flu outbreak.
See the following links for the full articles:

Furthermore, public health officials and scientists analyzing the H1N1 flu virus in the United States now believe that it is a relatively mild strain of influenza and that it may not even cause as much damage as the flu outbreaks we are used to every winter.

See the following link for the full article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124147750870285021.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/04/swine.flu.main/index.html

See this link to track the spread of the virus in the world

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

The World Health Organization continues to recommend that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders. “Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading but would be highly disruptive to the global community.”

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales
Corporate Operations Manager

Flu Update May 1, 2009 7:00 PM

Please click in the link below to read the official communication from Quintana Roo's Tourism Board.

Click here.

Flu Update May 1, 2:00 p.m.

Dear Members & Guests,

In his most recent press conference, State Governor Félix González Canto announced that Quintana Roo has sufficient supplies of the antiviral drugs needed to treat the population in the event of an emergency and that preventive measures have been stepped up with the closure of bars, cantinas, discos and movie theaters throughout the state. Due to this government order, here at Royal Resorts we have had to close the lobby bars, La Cabaña at The Royal Caribbean, Sidelines at The Royal Sands & Spa and La Rotonda at The Royal Haciendas until further notice. All events scheduled to take place in the aforementioned bars have been moved to Pancho & Willy’s, the Patio at Hacienda Sisal and La Palapa del Sol at The Royal Haciendas, respectively. Our restaurants will also be operating at 50% of their capacity to ensure that no more than 80 people gather in the same place at the same time. We would like to stress that these are only precautionary measures and will not affect the excellent attention and service that you are used to receiving from our staff.

Accompanied by his Secretaries of State and members of the cabinet, Mayors, military and government officials, Gonzalez Canto said that a man had died in Cancun from pneumonia in the last few hours but it has not yet been confirmed that it is due to the Human Flu virus (Influenza A (H1N1). Samples have been sent to Mexico City for testing and the result should be known in the next 24 hours. The State Governor said, “in the meantime we have to treat this death as a possible case of Human Flu Virus.” He went on to say, ”In Mexico City, there are signs that all the preventive measures being taken are now beginning to have a positive effect.”

See the following link for the full article:

http://www.qroo.gob.mx/qroo

The World Health Organization also repeated its message of “No restrictions on travel or border closures” in its most recent update:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009 05 01/en/index.html

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales
Corporate Operations Manager

Flu Update May 4, 2 p.m.

Dear Members & Guests,

In a bulletin issued yesterday evening, the State Government announced that three cases of Influenza A strain H1N1 were detected in Quintana Roo during normal flu screening, one in Chetumal, one in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and one in Cancun. Samples sent to the National Institute for Diagnosis and Epidemiological Testing (INDRE) tested positive for the virus and the patients were subsequently given antiviral drugs and responded well to treatment. Quintana Roo Health Secretary Juan Carlos Azueta Cardenas said that the cases were discovered less than 72 hours after they were admitted to hospital when all three patients were in the initial phase of the illness. They were given antiviral drugs immediately and have since made a full recovery. They are now at home and are not contagious. Mr. Azueta explained that the antiviral drugs prescribed help the body build up defenses against the disease, creating antibodies that ensure that the patient cannot catch the flu again or become a carrier.

Accompanied by his Secretaries of State and members of the cabinet, Mayors, military and government officials, Gonzalez Canto said that a man had died in Cancun from pneumonia in the last few hours but it has not yet been confirmed that it is due to the Human Flu virus (Influenza A (H1N1). Samples have been sent to Mexico City for testing and the result should be known in the next 24 hours. The State Governor said, “in the meantime we have to treat this death as a possible case of Human Flu Virus.” He went on to say, ”In Mexico City, there are signs that all the preventive measures being taken are now beginning to have a positive effect.”

See the following link for the full article:

http://www.qroo.gob.mx/qroo

Strict measures are in place throughout the state to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, including screening with infrared thermometers at airports and bus terminals and the temporary closure of schools, colleges and other establishments. The local health authorities have also requested that all restaurants operate at 50% of their seating capacity, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you; please remember that Royal Resorts has a variety of restaurants inside and outside the clubs in addition to its Express Food to Go takeaway locations.

In other news, the Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova announced on Sunday that the flu epidemic in Mexico may have peaked and that reports of new cases are declining. In a televised message to the nation last night, President Calderon also said that the precautionary measures taken throughout the country and an effective information campaign appeared to have helped contain the outbreak. Government officials are expected to meet today to study the situation and decide when some of the restrictions can be lifted.

Furthermore, public health officials and scientists analyzing the H1N1 flu virus in the United States now believe that it is a relatively mild strain of influenza and that it may not even cause as much damage as the flu outbreaks we are used to every winter.

See the following link for the full article:

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story?page=1

In its most recent update The World Health Organization continues to advise that there should be no restrictions on regular travel or closure of borders. Likewise, there is no risk of infection from this virus from the consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Click here.

See the following link for the full article:

http://www.qroo.gob.mx/qroo

The World Health Organization also repeated its message of “No restrictions on travel or border closures” in its most recent update:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009 05 01/en/index.html

As always we are here to welcome you back to your “home away from home.” Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales
Corporate Operations Manager

Please continue to monitor the official Royal Resorts website for further updates.

Armando Millet Vales
Corporate Operations Manager

Update on Influenza

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