The Swine Flu saga continues. Mexico reported three new deaths from the swine flu epidemic Saturday and urged citizens not to let their guard down against a virus that has killed 19 in people in Mexico and is spreading across Asia and Europe.
Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said Mexico’s confirmed swine flu cases jumped to 473, including the 19 deaths. The previous death toll in Mexico was 16. A Mexican toddler also died in Texas days ago, for a worldwide total of 20.
In accordance with measures announced by the Government of Mexico to limit the congregation of large crowds to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez advise that most consular services are being suspended. The dates listed below may change. The Embassy and Consulate General will monitor the H1N1 situation continuously during the week and will update information on our website if the dates of the suspension of service change.
Immigrant Visa operations in Ciudad Juarez have been suspended from April 30 to May 8. Immigrant visa and waiver applicants who have April 29 appointments should proceed to the Consulate. The panel physicians are closed. Those applicants who have consular immigrant visa appointments after May 8 and have not yet obtained their medical exams should not come to Juarez until the panel physicians have re-opened.
All non-immigrant visas operations in Mexico have been suspended until May 6.
Consular services for U.S. citizens throughout Mexico will be limited to emergency assistance and to citizenship applications (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBA). Anyone with passport or CRBA appointments are encouraged but not required to reschedule to a later date. For more complete information on consular operations during the flu outbreak, as well as the latest travel advisory and warden messages, visit http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/h1n1.html.