Officials with Dallas County Health and Human Services Department are taking a proactive approach to the swine flu threat by warning the public about several probable new cases of the illness and getting information to travelers to and from Mexico.
"Ladies and gentleman this is serious! And we want the public to respond accordingly," Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said at a press briefing on Sunday as he was getting the word out that three probable cases of swine flu are now under investigation in Dallas County.
"We will be contacting schools, colleges and universities tomorrow with additional information," Price added.
The patients range in age from 3-months-old to 7 and 24-years-old. The patients are not related to each other nor do any of them have any connection to the 10-year-old boy who was diagnosed with swine flu in Dallas last week after coming to the city from San Diego.
"We have three cases that are probable so they need further confirmation," said Dr. John Carlo, medical director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department. "We're in the process of asking those questions about travel and other contact with sick individuals."
Carlo added that the patients are not under quarantine.
The Dallas County Health and Human Services Department made the announcement at Turimex International, a company that provides bus tours of Mexico.
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Passengers were given information on precautions that should be take such as washing hands and seeking medical attention in the event that they should become ill.
"And one of the initiatives was to look at bus operators to insure that their passengers understood the severity of the problem," said Zachary Thompson, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department.
Meanwhile, several carriers are now following American Airline's lead and are waiving fees for any passengers that have book flights to Mexico and now want to change their plans. Those other airlines include Mexicana, United, Continental and US Airways.
"I think that's the way the airlines should be. You need to take care of yourself first," said Mareen Gresham, as she waited for her son's plane to retrun from Cancun. "If I were going to Mexico I might think twice."
"Its clearly reacting to what's going on in Mexico and reacting to what the market is demanding," said Mike Wallis, a DFW Airport passenger, "I think they're (the airlines) doing a great job."
