S. Korea lowers level of Mexico travel alert, urges discretion

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea lowered its travel alert level to Mexico on
Friday after the Central American country lifted Influenza A restrictions on its
capital, the government said.
The foreign ministry said it has lowered its third-strongest "travel restriction"
alert level down a notch to the "travel discretion" level, as the spread of the
virus is believed to be under control there.
South Korea had placed the level-three travel restriction on Mexico after the
first case of Influenza A was found in its capital of Seoul in late April.
The country operates a four-tier travel alert system for overseas travel
security, with a travel ban being the strongest. The ministry advised people to
cancel or delay trips to Mexico and called for the early return of people who
were visiting there.
Mexico City fully lifted all H1N1 virus restrictions Thursday, just weeks after
the metropolis was virtually shut down. The city was at the epicenter of the flu
outbreak that spread to 41 countries, infecting more than 11,000 people and
leading to 85 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Since the outbreak was reported in Mexico last month, the Seoul government has
stepped up efforts to stem the spread of the virus by intensifying monitoring of
international travel.
South Korea has confirmed that three patients were infected with the new virus,
all of whom were released from quarantine after being treated with antiviral
drugs.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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