Posted 30 Apr 2009

Following the World Health Organisation’s decision to raise the pandemic rating from four to five yesterday, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) now advises Brits to refrain from all but essential travel to swine flu-stricken Mexico.

According to the FCO, Brits who are currently residing or holidaying in Mexico should thoroughly "consider whether they should remain" in the country at present in light of the outbreak of swine flu.

The Mexican Secretariat of Health urges those remaining in the region to refrain from using the subway, venturing out into large crowds and coming into close contact with others.

So far, the deaths of 176 people in Mexico are though to be directly connected to the flu and cases have now been confirmed in a total of 12 countries, including Costa Rica, Switzerland and Peru.

The first H1N1-related death outside of the country has also been confirmed in Texas.

Meanwhile, London mayor Boris Johnson is in talks over donating £1 million worth of the Greater London Authority’s Tamiflu stores to the UK government. The anti-virals had been purchased by his predecessor Ken Livingstone.

Category: General Travel