Tourists planning to visit Mexico can do so as long as they follow government health guidelines designed to combat the spread of swine flu, a Mexican health expert said in an interview with Xinhua on Sunday.

Handshaking and kissing should be avoided, said Arturo Galindo Fraga, vice president of the Mexican Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology Association.

He also advised tourists to wash hands several times a day and stay in open spaces with few people. Visitors should do this even if they have been vaccinated at their own countries, as the virus spreading in Mexico is a new strain with characteristics of human, pig and avian flu viruses, Galindo noted.

"It is important for people to understand that the vaccine does not guarantee 100 percent freedom from infection and that, in spite of having been vaccinated, they should not ignore these measures, which might be the most important ones at the moment," he said.

Galindo added that swine flu symptoms are unexpected, and different to those suffered by the more common seasonal flues.

"It beings with a sudden temperature, rising to 39 Celsius degrees without warning, then nasal secretions and then a general physical malaise," he said.

For those who visited Mexico recently, Galindo suggested watching for symptoms for 10 days after reaching home to ensure no infection has taken place.

The United States have confirmed several cases in California and Texas, U.S. states bordering Mexico. In New Zealand, a total of 13 students who recently traveled to Mexico have been tested positive for Influenza A, of which swine flu is a subtype. These are first suspected cases in the Asian and Pacific region.

"Medicine which can help fight the infection is available in both Mexico and other nations, but the most important thing is to begin treatment in the early days of the infection," said Galindo.

The Mexican government declared an influenza alert last Thursday, and health authorities in the United States, Canada, France and Spain have advised their citizens to take precautionary measures if they have to visit Mexico.

The Mexican government has reported death toll including both confirmed and suspected swine flu cases to 103. Over 1,600 people were suspected to be infected.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2009)