Airlines offering passengers a way out

If a trip to Mexico is on your horizon, pay attention. An outbreak of the Swine Flu that's killed 68 people and infected more than 1,000 has sent Mexican officials scrambling to contain the virus.

Mexico TravelToday officials announced that two major soccer matches scheduled for Sunday will be played without spectators. On Friday, citizens and visitors were advised not to venture out to public places and seven million students, from kindergartners to college students, were sent home from schools - the first city-wide closing since the 1985 earthquake.

What's particularly disturbing about this outbreak is that all the deaths were healthy people between 3 and 60 years old. Seasonal flues affect the young and infirm first, but pandemics hit healthy people the hardest.

If you have travel plans to Mexico, it might be a good idea to contact your travel agent and discuss your options.

Both U.S. Airways and Continental Airlines have invited passengers to reroute or postpone travels. Both airlines have restricted itinerary changes to particular dates and cities within Mexico, but expect restrictions to ease up as events unfold. Not much fun to vacation where you can't ever leave your hotel room - unless you're on your honeymoon...

What can quickly look like a media frenzy from the outside takes on a personal note when people experiencing it firsthand share their fears. The BBC invited people in Mexico to email their experiences - here's what a few said:

"I understand that we must avoid to panic, but telling the truth it might be better now to prevent and avoid more deaths."

Yeny Gregorio Dávila, Mexico City

My family and I are going to stay home all weekend. We feel a little scared and confused with the feeling that we are not given being told the truth. Many people think the numbers of dead people is higher than we are being told.

Marcos, Mexico City

Do you have travel plans to Mexico? Are you concerned?