Swine Flu in Arizona; are you safe

May 1, 2:42 AMOrlando Florida Vacation ExaminerRochelle Paul

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More states now affected with swine flu (AP Photo)

The Arizona Department of Health and the government are reporting 4 cases of swine flu in Arizona, with several schools being closed for a week to stop or prevent the spread.  The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 5, indicating a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measure is short."

The United States Federal Government has declared a public health emergency in the US.

Arizona is one of several states swine flu has been found.  California and Texas continue on the list, with Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, new York (with the most cases as of this writing), Ohio, and South Carolina.  As of this writing, there has been 1 death associated with swine flu.

WHO is at this time, advising no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.  However, they are asking those who are traveling to delay any travel plans if they feel or are ill.  Additionally, it is recommended by all authoritative bodies that anyone who feels ill to seek medical care.

Travel to Arizona is as safe as it is anywhere within the US.  There are no travel restrictions, to Arizona or any other location within the US, or worldwide.  Having traveled to Sedona yesterday, April 29, we saw no one with masks, and many people active around town and the surrounding area.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, in a statement from his office, "Swine flu underscores the need for illegal Immigration Enforcement."  The Sheriff's office released a statement that states, "it is estimated that over 90% of all illegal aliens arrested by his Anti Human Smuggling Unit come from areas south of Mexico City where the swine flu has already killed nearly 150 people."

Additionally, the Sheriff's department is now supplying protective gear kits to its staff, and will strongly recommend that his 750 deputies use face masks and gloves in the field when they encounter and arrest illegal immigrants coming in from Mexico.

"It takes an average of seven (7) days for illegal immigrants from the southern Mexican states to be smuggles into Maricopa County." says Arpaio.  "If illegal aliens are exposed to swine flu in Mexico, by the time they arrive in the US, the disease is fully infectious."

The Sheriff also says in the statement that he supports stopping and searching all those entering the U.S. at the Mexican border if the crises worsens. 

Be sure to check out my other column, Strategies for Small Business Examiner