Tournament Update - Swine Flu

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From the Tournament Organizers:

Due to the recent outbreak of the Swine influenza, we have been receiving many inquiries from around the world regarding the status of the VEX Robotics Competition to be held this weekend in Dallas.

To be very clear, the event will be held as planned April 30 through May 2. Many teams have already departed for Dallas and we welcome their arrival. There is no reason to consider postponing the event based on the current facts. The VEX event team has been closely monitoring news reports regarding the Swine influenza and subscribes to the recommendations from two main sources of authority: the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Following are the key facts and links to more detailed information.

World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/)
-Swine influenza - Update 3, April 27, 2009
-WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov)
-No restrictions are in effect for travel to the United States
-Follow basic common sense hygiene to prevent the spread of swine flu as directed on the CDC website

Dallas, Texas Facts
-No swine flu cases have been identified in Dallas, Texas, population 6,300,000
-Two cases have been reported outside San Antonio, Texas which is 275 miles from Dallas
-Texas population is 23,900,000
-The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau is posting hand sanitization stations throughout the Dallas Convention Center for the VEX event

Based on the national school closure mandated by the Mexican government through May 6, no teams from Mexico will attend the event. We regret that they will not be able to join us and thank them for their understanding, cooperation and help in arriving at this difficult decision.

Please let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to seeing you in Dallas - only 2 days until the doors open on Thursday morning.

See you in Dallas,

Vex Robotics World Championship Organizing Committee