EU: Avoid traveling to Mexico, US

BRUSSELS: The European Union's health chief advised travelers yesterday not to go to areas affected by swine flu.

The EU did not issue any formal instructions to travelers but said the bloc's health ministers would discuss ways to prevent the spread of the virus later this week and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation later yesterday.

"Personally, I'd try to avoid non-essential travel to the areas which are reported to be in the center (of the crisis)," Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said in a statement recorded in Luxembourg and broadcast to reporters in Brussels.