quarantined

While the H1N1 virus has become a pandemic, the Chinese government is taking every precaution possible to prevent it's spread. This includes placing into quarantine American families traveling to bring home their children and different provinces halting all adoptions until further notice.

I fully understand that they must do this, but at the same time, I've been where many of those waiting families are. At a point that it seems like the time will never arrive that you will actually hold your child as true flesh and blood and not just in your heart.

Please pray for THIS family that has indeed been quarantined since their arrival in China and for my sweet bloggy friend, Tami, who was leaving in just a matter of days to bring home their precious treasure, Sophie, when they received the dreaded call that their travel plans had been halted.

As Tami stated on her blog, "Even when I don't understand. Always, God is good."

In addition, please pray for the families that are there now. May they remain healthy and travel safely back home with their blessings in tow.

Below is the latest travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State:

Travel Alert
CHINA
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

This information is current as of Monday June 22, 2009.

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the quarantine measures imposed by the Government of China in response to the 2009-H1N1 pandemic that may affect travel to China. This Travel Alert expires on September 30, 2009.

Current quarantine measures in China include placing arriving passengers who exhibit fever or flu-like symptoms into seven-day quarantine. Although the proportion of arriving Americans being quarantined remains low, the random nature of the selection process increases the uncertainty surrounding travel to China. The selection process focuses on those sitting in close proximity to another traveler exhibiting fever or flu-like symptoms or on thosedisplaying an elevated temperature if arriving from an area where outbreaks of 2009-H1N1 have occurred. We have reports of passengers arriving from areas where outbreaks have occurred (including the U.S. and Mexico) being placed in precautionary quarantine simply because they registered slightly elevated temperatures.

In some instances, children have been separated from their parents because either the parent or the child tested positive for 2009-H1N1 and was placed in quarantine for treatment. This situation presents the possibility of Chinese medical personnel administering medications to minors without first having consulted their parents.

The Department of State has received reports about unsuitable quarantine conditions, including the unavailability of suitable drinking water and food, unsanitary conditions, and the inability to communicate with others.

Travelers to China are reminded that all foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, are obliged to follow local procedures regarding quarantines and any other public health-related measures. The U.S. Embassy will be unable to influence the duration of stay in quarantine for affected travelers.

The Chinese government will not compensate people for lost travel expenses. Travelers to China are urged to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect against losses in the event they are quarantined.

For more information on U.S. Government policy during a pandemic, and for travel safety information, please see the State Department's "Pandemic/Avian Influenza" and "Remain in Country" fact sheets on www.travel.state. gov.

Further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, the U.S. Government pandemic influenza website at www.pandemicflu.gov, and the World Health Organization website at www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Department of State's travel registration website. By registering, American citizens can receive the Embassy's most recent security and safety updates during their trip. Registration also ensures that U.S. citizens can be reached should an emergency arise either abroad or at home. While consular officers will do their utmost to assist Americans in a crisis, travelers always should be aware that local authorities bear primary responsibility for the welfare of people living or traveling in their jurisdictions.