Swine Flu Hits Asia Hong Kong Hotel in Quarantine

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Posted: 02 May 2009 | 10:04 am

Hong Kong's Metropark hotel in Wanchai has seen over 300 people sealed off and is under quarantine after a guest who had traveled to Mexico was confirmed to have the virus. South Korea has also reported its first case. Deaths from the epidemic now are close to 400.

I spoke to a few hotel contacts in Hong Kong this morning and most properties are now in the midst of contingency planning should further cases occur in the SAR. Airlines in the region are reporting a slow down in long haul travel and the situation remains very much an unknown. Undoubtedly the global travel business is going to see a sharp reduction in travelers and with the latest news the impact looks set to hit these shores as well.

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