(Source: dynamictruth.com)

This week a survey from Skyscanner revealed that 31 percent of travellers would be put off going to a destination for at least 12 months if it had experienced an epidemic like swine flu. This is longer than if the country had suffered from a terrorist attack, civil unrest or a natural disaster.

While it’s encouraging to see holidaymakers concerned with their own wellbeing while away, a year is long time to avoid a country. Speaking from experience, we worked with a number of hotels in Mexico during the swine flu outbreak to help them keep their doors open and their guests safe. As long as a hotel has stringent health and safety measures in place, there is no reason why holidaymakers can’t stay there, even if there has been an epidemic close to the hotel.

Illnesses can be caught in any destination from 5-star accommodation in Mexico, Spain or Greece to a seaside B&B in Bognor, epidemic or not.

Source: www.hajjumrah.pk

Each year more than 25,000 British Muslims travel to Mecca for Hajj, a ten day ritual which is due to start between 25-30 November.

This is an extremely important event in the Islamic religious calendar. So we have put together some top tips to ensure that any pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina this year, can do so without the worry of contracting a food related illness or coming down with swine flu:

• All visitors should carry disinfectant gels and/or tissues, which should be used often especially for use after handling items or objects in public areas.
• If possible, minimize the amount of time spent in large congregations, as swine flu and Norovirus are both airborne bacteria. If necessary wear masks when in large congregations, which is inevitable during prayer time and carrying out the ritual of Hajj.
• Visiting UK pilgrims should consult their doctor prior to their visit for any required vaccinations and perhaps precautionary medicine to be supplied, such as TAMIFLU.
• Consume sufficient amounts of water to avoid experiencing dehydration during the conduction of the Hajj Rituals. Despite it being winter, the weather can still be rather warm.
• Pilgrims should only use bottled water purchased from approved and appropriate suppliers and avoid any drinks with ice.
• Do not purchase or consume food from unknown local shops or street vehicles and only rely on food and drinks sourced from the hotel accommodation and appropriate large chain super markets.
• While it is part of the ritual to wash your hands before prayer, we would recommend washing your hands as often as possible.
• If you are unlucky enough to become ill, showing symptoms of a high temperature and other gastric related symptoms, then isolate yourself for at least for four days.

We have been uming and ahing for the past week on whether to comment on the swine flu epidemic. And, it wasn’t until we read a great blog entry from Darren Cronian at Travel Rants that we decided to discuss it on CheckSafetyFirst.com. In his entry, Darren offers consumers some great advice on what they should do if they have booked a holiday to a country with confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus:

Non essential travel to Mexico

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office is advising against all non essential travel to Mexico so speak to your travel agent who will advise you accordingly. You will find that most tour operators will offer you a suitable holiday or a full refund but it’s unlikely that you will be compensated.

The advice below only applies if the Government advise against travelling to your holiday destination

Travel agent that is ABTA or ATOL bonded

You should receive an alternative holiday or a full refund. You’ll also have financial protection if you have purchased your holiday using a credit card, so do not panic. Initially contact the company who you booked your holiday through and they should be able to advise you.

Booked your own holiday (DIY)

If you have booked your own flight and accommodation then consult with your travel insurance policy as some may cover cancellation costs, although policies vary. Hopefully you have taken out travel insurance, if not, well, you’re silly, and let’s hope that you have booked with a credit card.

Cancel despite no Government advice

One consumer wanted to cancel their holiday to Spain despite only having a small number of cases. I think it is unlikely that you will be able to change the holiday without further cost to you, or receive a refund, but it will depend on the advice given by the Government.

Travel despite government advice

Travellers may invalidate a travel insurance policy should they disobey the Government’s travel warnings. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office will spend a lot of time talking with international bodies and the World Health Organisation before they make a decision to advise against travel.

Swine Flu help resources

Highly recommend is a visit to the country advice guides on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website as they have added information on how the virus could impact your travel plans. Here are some other useful resources to help travel consumers.

Naturally, travellers are very nervous at the moment but, the advice is to stay calm, follow Government guidance, and use your common sense.