Impact of Coronavirus on Medical Tourism to Mexico

The rapidly spreading Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). As the virus advances to all countries and the number of cases & deaths climb, governments worldwide are fighting to curb the growth of this infectious disease. The authorities are imposing:

• Travel ban and restrictions to other countries
• Shelter-in-home, stay home, and no gatherings orders
• Local or national lock-down

The effect of this sweeping phenomenon on the world economy including the medical tourism industry could be enormous. Medical tourists, Americans or Canadians, may wonder whether it is still safe to travel to Mexico for weight loss surgery, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, cancer, orthopedic, or any other procedure.

In the month of March 2020, about 85% of patients were forced to cancel their trips to receive treatment; with at least 50% cancellations on the horizon through Q3, 2020.[1]

In this comprehensive guide, we will be discussing all aspects of Coronavirus and its influence on medical trips overseas.

About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus Count worldometers.info

Novel Coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 causes a viral respiratory illness that first originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. SARS-CoV-2 has spread to over 81 countries with clusters in China, Spain, Iran, Italy, Germany, United States, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. The most common symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, fatigue, and in severe cases pneumonia.

The most vulnerable to this flu-like sickness are the elderly with reduced immunity and individuals with underlying health problems, such as morbid obesity, diabetes, and High Blood Pressure. COVID-19 can be particularly deadly for individuals with obesity-associated comorbidities as they are getting hit the hardest.

The mortality rate of COVID-19 is estimated at 3.4% according to the World Health Organization. It is estimated about 80% of people who get infected “do well” and recover without needing any medical care.[2]

The anxiety regarding Coronavirus is the fact that it is not fully understood and treatments are not yet available. As of today, the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been reached and the only remedy is practicing good hygiene, self-isolation, social distancing, and quarantine. Over the next few months, we will understand what we can and can’t do to intervene, including vaccination.

Notable Statistics of Global Epidemics

Worldwide Epidemics – COVID-19, Viruses & Obesity Statistics (May 2020)

Here are some statistics to compare COVID-19 with SARS, MERS, Ebola, Obesity, etc.

• Influenza outbreak (Flu Season) in 2017 had 60,000 deaths in the U.S. and half a million deaths globally.[3]
• Coronavirus counts: There are over 765,000 cases of Coronavirus worldwide with over 37,000 people dying, and about 161,000 recovered from it so far (March 30, 2020).
• In one year, an estimated 3,000,000 people died from being overweight or obese.[4]

As it appears in the statistics, obesity and its related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and cancers, are still more deadly than coronavirus. The average medical cost of obesity is around 100,000 USD per person and it could leave you financially broke!

COVID 19 cases in the US

How Does COVID-19 Spread?

Like any type of flu or virus, Coronavirus spreads from human to human or animal to human through respiratory droplets. Sneezing and coughing are the main forms of transmittal for this disease. COVID-19 is generally transmitted by asymptomatic carriers who have none of the typical symptoms and are unconsciously spreading it to others. To be exposed, you have to be within a 6 feet proximity of the person who harbored the pathogen.

Coronavirus, also called “Bioweapon,” has secret ammunition called a super-spreader. A super spreader works a bit differently from a typical infection spreader. A super-spreader catches the infection much like a normal carrier but spreads it to an average of 8 people as opposed to an average of 2.6 people.

Coronavirus survives in the air for 3 hours, on copper for 4 hours, and on cardboard for 24 hours. The virus lives on some surfaces like plastic as well as stainless steel for 3 days. The infection stays in the body for up to 2 weeks before showing symptoms.

Medical Tourism

Patients cross national borders to receive elective or urgent healthcare services not available or affordable at home. Global healthcare destinations, like Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore, South Korea, Costa Rica, and Iran attract thousands of individuals to receive medical services like bariatrics, plastics, dental, fertility care, orthopedics, cancer, stem cell, and heart surgery.

Medical travelers can save anywhere from 2o% to 80% on treatments in countries like Mexico with 40% to 65% savings.

Destination surgery travelers need to outweigh the risks of not undergoing necessary medical procedures with the risks of contracting any illness. Medical tourists need to make sure they are not going to substandard facilities without sufficient infrastructure and protocols in place to be proactive in combating harmful pathogens. Clinical accreditation is crucial in reducing the risk activities by establishing infection control of viruses like Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Impact on Medical Tourism

Increased globalization affects tourists who are planning to travel for medical treatments. That is why patients must be very vigilant and prepared to avoid contagious diseases. The Coronavirus has created virus fears and restrictions on patients crossing the borders.

Short-term implications of COVID-19 on health-related travel are imminent for some countries like Thailand and China. The long-term effect on medical tourism is unknown and depends on levels of spread and severity, as well as the levels of reaction, complacency, and inaction. Tourism, in general, is expected to get hit hard and health tourism is expected to suffer the hardest.

A global collaboration of scientists is creating a path to a speedy human intervention to contain outbreaks with vaccines and antiviral medications. Environmental factors such as heat and humidity in the summer months can also help alleviate the novel Coronavirus. Another scenario is that it will mutate at a rate that makes it harder to infect people.

Things to Consider Before You Travel

There have been broader efforts in terms of preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 including travel bans and lockdowns. The United States, for example, imposed restrictions on people coming from China.

1. Check with the CDC, WHO, any other national regulatory bodies for travel advisory, ban, etc.
2. Check the accreditation of the facility you are considering to go with as well as their infection control policies.

Travel Restrictions to Mexico

The U.S. Department of State advises citizens to avoid all international travel. President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe to the United States.

Mexico is one of the least impacted countries as far as the Coronavirus is concerned. Mexico is ranked about the 60th Thus far, only four cases of Coronavirus have been reported within Mexico – all of the four cases traveled to Italy.[5]

In Baja California, there have not been any cases reported of Coronavirus. Currently, the United States of America will not close the border to Mexico, however, restricts it to non-essential travels.

Update 3/20/2020

Actions Taken by Mexico Bariatric Center at This Time

As Coronavirus cases top 300,000 around the world, Mexico Bariatric Center® makes the following decisions:

1. At our headquarters in Folsom, California, MBC has decided to continue to employ our staff as they work from home, to be there for you whenever you need them.
2. We have decided the best course of action is to postpone and reschedule surgery dates in effect to April 13, 2020 and beyond. We will resume surgeries after we have better control and handle the spread of COVID-19.

We understand obesity is a major risk factor for severe Cornovirus infections. However, our decision to postpone operation ensures that patients undergo the surgery in optimal safety standards and low-risk circumstances.

“Our patients have always been our number one priority. Mexico Bariatric Center is choosing the best practice for the patient’s safety and wellness. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make the right decision regardless of financial implications and losses imposed by this once-in-a-lifetime circumstance.” – Ron Elli, Ph.D., Founder & CEO

How to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus

Prevention, Contagion, Symptoms

Basic universal precautions needed for personal wellbeing and avoiding getting sick. Be smart and do not panic!

• Make sure you cough or sneeze into a tissue paper or the upper sleeve – not the hands. That is how you transmit it to others!
• Wash your hands for 20-30 seconds minimum. Emphasize this before/after using the restroom and eating food.
• Do not go in close to people who are sick; coughing, sneezing, blowing the nose, etc.
• Do not touch eyes, mouth, or nose without washing your hands first.
• Throw away any tissues, napkins, paper towels, or kleenex after use.
• Carry and regularly use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean your seat and area in the airplane with antibacterial wipes.
• Social distancing: Be aware of your surroundings and increase the physical space between yourself and the people around you.
• There is no recommendation to use masks on a routine basis outside the affected areas, although it does offer an extra layer of protection for patients. Special n95 mask is required for healthcare professionals dealing with patients affected by this disease.
• Drink hot water to kill germs and viruses.
• Disinfect your cell phone
• Use EPA’s approved list of cleaners, such as Lysol, Clorox, Purell products. Make sure you do not mix cleaners together, such as bleach and vinegar.

This is a “public health” type of prevention. Someone with the signs of infection needs to stay at home and avoid any contact when sick to stop spreading it to others. Besides a mandatory self-quarantine, they should seek medical help immediately if the following symptoms are present:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing

Detailed Map of COVID-19 Spreading Around the World

The following map shows the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in different regions of the world:

Data source: WHO National Health

About Mexico Bariatric Center

Mexico Bariatric Center® is one of the oldest medical tourism companies housed in the United States. MBC coordinates people from the U.S., Canada, and the rest of the world to travel to Mexico for reliable and affordable bariatric & metabolic, and plastics surgery. Bariatrics in Mexico offers a safe and long-term weight loss solution for individuals not covered by insurance or underinsured.

Mexico Bariatric Center works with a team of the best weight loss surgeons in Mexico to improve your health and prolong your life. Since 2012, MBC has been offering all-inclusive weight loss surgery packages, such as popular gastric sleeve in Tijuana, at a discounted price. Contact us to see if weight loss surgery in Mexico is a viable option for you!

Conclusion

Studies regarding the occurrences of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 infection indicating that health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, is a risk factor for obese patients. Massive obesity coupled with infections such as Coronavirus jeopardizes people’s lives.

Coronavirus 2019 has brought the world to a screeching halt and threatens to cause a global recession, with most businesses “living day-to-day.” Medical travelers from the United States and other cities around the globe are forced to cancel and/or to reschedule their trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-COVID-19

What the future holds and how soon healthcare to destinations like Mexico will resume is yet to be seen. After the crisis recedes and a new normal is established, everything will be more intense and vivid. The demand for procedures life weight loss surgery in Mexico will be pronounced.

More Reading:

• Coronavirus-Proof Your Home
• First human trial for the coronavirus vaccine begins today (March 16, 2020)
• COVID-19 Outbreak and Surgical Practice: Unexpected Fatality in the Perioperative Period
• Mexico broadens 1-month shut down from March 30 to April 30 as virus cases top 1,000
• How to Form a COVID-19 Social Bubble?
• CDC adds runny nose, nausea to the growing list of COVID-19 symptoms