BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR --According to Alberto Treviño, head of the Baja Califoria Sur tourism board, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week reported that no new cases of H1N1 (swine flu) have been recorded in Baja Sur, the southern half of the Baja California Peninsula.

Photo by: www.MexicoBoating.com photo Conditions Improving -- Baja Sur has reported a major decrease in reported swine flu cases. Southern marinas, such as Marina CostaBaja in La Paz, are now seeing cruisers make plans for summering over.

Even before swine flu began abating in Mexico last week and schools were reopened, the U.S. State Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said travel was no longer restricted to and from Mexico. 

However, common-sense precautions are still being urged to prevent the spread of flu germs, such as frequent hand washing with soap or anti-microbial gel, containing coughs and sneezes inside a handkerchief and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you have a cold, wear a mask and stay at least 3 feet from others. Two medications, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir, are recommended for the treatment and prevention of swine flu virus infections in humans.

In Baja California Norte, according to Mexico officials, one person with swine flu was reportedly hospitalized in Ensenada. At other popular boating destinations elsewhere in Mexico, two cases of H1N1 were reported in San Blas, Nayarit; 31 cases were reported in the Puerto Vallarta area; 10 were reported in Manzanillo; one was reported in Zihuatanejo; and 36 were reported in Acapulco. Inland, Mexico City reported a total of 66 deaths related to the outbreak.

In April, Mexico health officials discovered the H1N1 virus in a child living near a pig farm in Veracruz on the Caribbean, and those doctors’ early, drastic and rapid response -- which included closing schools and soccer tournaments -- is believed to have prevented H1N1 from spreading farther. The normal flu season in Mexico begins during fall.

As we go to press, the World Health Organization is reporting that international travel is safe, and it is not recommending any Mexico travel restrictions related to the H1N1 outbreak.