Family left fearing for their safety at end of holiday

Brothers Nathan (left) and Alex at Auckland Airport yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Teenager Alex Saunders and his family got a shock when they boarded a flight home after holidaying through Mexico.

Mum Kerry said the family had enjoyed a week in Los Angeles and another week on a cruise which stopped at several ports in Mexico.

It was at the last stop that son Alex, 14, came down with the flu - complaining of a sore throat, headache and a rising temperature.

Having heard nothing about the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the possible scare in New Zealand, the family were flying back to Auckland yesterday when they heard the news.

"We only found out on the plane when it came over the intercom [that] the Ministry of Health were looking into a suspected outbreak of swine flu," said Mrs Saunders.

"Alex just froze - he was quite worried when that came on - you could see it in his eyes."

After being checked by a doctor, Alex is now recovering, but Mrs Saunders said she is disappointed that the family - along with other cruise passengers - were not told of a swine flu outbreak in Mexico.

"I think I've got the normal flu, not swine flu - it's just a cough," said Alex.

"The [swine flu] outbreak is a bit horrible - it just happened so quickly."

New Zealander Peter Lonsdale, now living in the city of Cuernavaca, just outside of Mexico City, told the Herald yesterday people were reacting seriously to the risk of contracting swine flu.

"People are just avoiding going outside and being around large crowds," he said.

"There are some people wearing masks - particularly employees who are dealing with food.

"But we're not going out to restaurants and we're avoiding large crowds [because] the closer you are to the crowds, the bigger the risk."