It's supposed to be a place where you can get away from it all. But now Canadian travellers to Mexico may be bringing something back with them that's far more serious than just a souvenir.
Experts are becoming increasingly concerned about a mysterious illness that's recalling the frightening days of SARS in Toronto.
The Public Health Agency of Canada
is looking into a growing number of reports about Canadians returning from the south and central parts of the country with a severe respiratory illness.
The mystery malady has puzzled experts both here and in Mexico, who have yet to identify exactly what it is. The ailment seems to primarily affect young adults who went on their trips healthy but failed to return in the same condition.
The symptoms begin as a flu-like illness and rapidly deteriorate to respiratory distress and breathing difficulties.
Doctors in Mexico are well aware of its presence. At least 20 people have died there so far - mostly patients between the ages of 25 and 44. Hundreds more have been sent to hospital, with some winding up on ventilators.
Even health care workers have gotten sick treating those who are infected - a disturbing similarity to what happened in Toronto during the SARS crisis in 2003.
Several people in Ontario are under observation.
"The last time I looked, less than 10 that we've been told about, a couple were more like colds," said Acting Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams.
Doctors on this side of the border are being advised to look out for patients coming in with the symptoms, while the Pan American Health Organization - a division of the World Health Organization - is attempting to diagnose what the bug might be and how to stop it.
"Following SARS, one of the learnings [sic] was to immediately contact the public health network for any signs of the symptoms, so there could be quick containment," advised Minister of Health David Caplan.
Some experts believe the illness could be a severe form of late season influenza but they haven't been able to confirm anything yet and are testing to see if it's a new kind of virus they're not familiar with.
Clayton Catching, who landed in Toronto from Mexico on Thursday, said he noticed people taking precautions while he was on vacation.
"There are some people wearing masks on the subway, I noticed that and I thought it was because of pollution. I didn't know there was an outbreak or anything," he said.
Symptoms of the mystery illness include:
- Fever,
- Cough,
- Sore throat,
- Muscle and joint pain,
- Shortness of breath.
It turns into severe breathing problems about five days after the initial infection surfaces.
What should you do if you think you or a loved one has been affected and when should you worry? The outbreak is relatively recent so you if you've been back for a few weeks, you're probably O.K. And if you don't suffer from the major symptoms, you're more likely to have a common cold than anything else.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, if you get sick when you're out of the country, you're required to tell a customs officer as you re-enter, in case you need special treatment.
If you become ill after returning, see your doctor as soon as possible and tell your physician where you've been and what care you received while you were away.
For more ways to safeguard your health before and after leaving Canada,
click here.