Swine Flu Won't Stop One Wedding

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The rapid outbreak of swine flu raises travel concerns.  The Oklahoma State Department of Health is monitoring and advising against non-essential travel.  But, that isn't stopping one Oklahoma family that is south of the border for a wedding.

"Their attitude is as of Sunday morning is well this is their wedding. They're going. It's going to happen," said Steve, who is going to Mexico.

Swine flu or no swine flu, Steve and his family are flying to Cozumel, Mexico for his son's destination wedding.

"We're going no matter what, but there is some concern," said Steve, who is going to Mexico.

"For the most part, Mexico is one of the biggest destinations that we book," said David Bottomley with Selah Tours.

Steve's family is going. But, travel agent David Bottomley received an e-mail first thing Monday morning from a couple rethinking their Mexican vacation.

"We've seen on TV about the swine flu, we're not going to Mexico," said David Bottomley with Selah Tours.  "We've had some people call in who were very concerned about what they've heard."

A vacation that took a year to plan dramatically changed after the swine flu spread seemingly out of nowhere. Bottomley says that traveler's insurance will protect you when emergencies pop up.

"It allows people to cancel their trip or to change it to another destination and not lose all of their money," said David Bottomley with Selah Tours.

The Department of Homeland Security now says that travel alerts to Mexico will be in place as long as swine flu is detected.

With the attitude that the wedding must go on, Steve called his doctor as a precaution.

"Talked to him specifically about the swine flu and what to do. He has prescribed some medication for us to take just in case we do develop symptoms," said Steve, who is going to Mexico.

So, Steve's family and the 32 wedding guests still have the green light to go to his son's wedding.

"I hope so.  We'll be on the beach this time tomorrow," said Steve, who is going to Mexico.

Tulsa International Airport doesn't have any direct flights to Mexico, but they do, of course, fly to Kansas and Texas where there have been cases of swine flu.  An airport spokesperson says they are taking extra precautions with regards to personal hygiene of employees and the cleanliness of airport facilities.