If pig flu could fly
After more than an hour at O'Hare waiting for their children to arrive from Mexico in the wake of a swine flu scare, Carlos and Alberta Ramirez were clearly agitated Monday afternoon.
Each time the Terminal Five security doors opened and passengers walked through - some wearing surgical masks - the West Chicago couple craned their necks to see if their three kids were next.
"I'm worried," said Alberta, who carried two "Hello Kitty" balloons for her daughters and an "Elmo" balloon for her son. The children were returning from a visit to grandparents in Mexico.
A mix of emotions from concern to nonchalance were relayed by travelers landing at O'Hare International Airport from Mexico, where more than 100 people have died from swine flu recently.
Carol Clark who was in Mexico City for a wedding, said few people were out in the streets Sunday and restaurants had closed as a result of the outbreak. The Barrington resident took precautions such as washing her hands more frequently and bought a mask for the plane.
"It's quite a way to end a trip," said Clark, who was greeted by a wall of cameras and reporters.
The Ramirezes' vigil ended happily when Axianeydt, 4, Kaila, 2, and Zayd, 1, appeared through the security doors. Carlos took his two daughters into his arms as Alberta cradled the baby, wiping away a few tears of relief.
"I'm happy," she said.
Similar reunions kept occurring throughout the terminal.
Mary Owen got a big hug from her husband, the Rev. Larry Owen, who was returning to LaPorte, Ind., from a missionary trip in Mexico.
While it's important to be cautious, "I think the media is overplaying it," Larry Owen said. "When you get out into the country, people don't even know about it."
While one female passenger wearing a mask said she was nervous and "couldn't sleep last night," and the parents of a 9-month old boy said they planned a visit to the doctor as a precaution, a Northbrook father and son arriving from a hockey tournament in Mexico City took it in stride.
"We didn't put on a mask the whole time," Joe Sanchez said. "We were just hanging out at the hockey rink."
Son Joey added the major inconvenience for him was the closure of his favorite fast food place.
"I couldn't go to my McDonald's, so I had a problem with that," Joey said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at O'Hare International Airport are looking for anyone who appears to have symptoms of swine flu, officials said.
"We are aware and vigilant and looking for any signs," CBP public liaison officer Brett Sturgeon said.
Passengers identified or suspected of having swine flu will be taken to an isolated area at O'Hare away from other fliers and given a surgical mask to wear. Their health then would be assessed by U.S. Centers for Disease Control doctors.
Customs and Border Protection has protective gloves and masks available for officers who wish to use them, Sturgeon said.