World Travel Watch: Dengue in Nicaragua, Instability in Bosnia and More

10.23.09 | 12:11 PM ET

World Travel Watch is a weekly report designed to help you make informed judgments about travel. Conditions can change overnight, so always make your own inquiries before you leave home. The U.S. State Department and embassies or consulates are good places to start.

Bosnia: Constitutional Crisis Has Officials Worried About Slipping Back into War

A constitutional crisis has authorities worried that the political system could collapse and Bosnia could descend into a civil war pitting Bosnian Muslims against Serbs similar to the three-year war of the 1990s. At issue is an attempt to create a new constitution to replace the one crafted in the Dayton Accords at the end of the war in 1995. Serb leaders feel the reforms are an effort to undermine their position and they want a referendum on Serb independence included in the constitution. European and U.S. diplomats have stepped in to help solve the problem. If a solution is not found soon, officials on both sides fear conflict could begin in a matter of months.

Canada: Road Closures Begin (Already!) for Winter Olympics in February

Road closures will begin Nov. 1 in Vancouver to prepare residents for the 21st Winter Olympics, which will be held in the city and surrounding area Feb. 12-28. To prevent gridlock during the games, authorities plan to convince locals to use public transit and avoid traveling into Olympic venues during peak hours. The Nov. 1 closures will restrict foot and vehicle traffic around the Olympic Village, including 1st Avenue and the seawall walkway on the south side of False Creek. Additional closures will begin in January, with more occurring in February and during the games. When the Olympics are on, officials will urge people to use public transit and avoid traveling into downtown Vancouver between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. or leaving between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Honduras: ‘State of Exception’ Lifted, but Political Impasse and Tensions Remain

The acting government canceled the “state of exception” (what used to be called a “state of emergency”) Oct. 19, lifting curfews and allowing opposition broadcast media to return to the air, but talks with deposed President Manuel Zelaya about his future role in government remained at an impasse. The government then sent the army to play loud music and recordings of pig grunts all night outside the Brazilian Embassy where Zelaya is holed up. Protests supporting Zelaya occur almost daily, and the de facto government imposed restrictions Oct. 21 requiring demonstrations to be approved 24 hours in advance with the leaders filing their names and the route of the march. Tensions remain high.

Nicaragua: Dengue Fever Outbreak in Managua, Elsewhere

The Nicaraguan health ministry reported 1,752 confirmed cases of dengue fever since July, with the majority of cases in Managua and the department of Masaya, and some reported in other areas. Eight people have died from dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare and more severe form of the disease. Preventing mosquito bites is the only sure way to avoid contracting dengue, and there is no specific treatment for the illness. Some of the symptoms are severe headache and muscle and joint pain, which is why dengue’s nickname is break-bone fever.

United Kingdom: Crime Maps Cover England and Wales for Residents, Visitors

Authorities launched a new interactive crime map Oct. 20 that shows crime levels for every town and village in England and Wales. Residents and visitors can check the numbers of all reported crimes in their areas at maps.police.uk, but demand was so high the first day the site crashed. Officials reason that providing this information to the public will serve many purposes, from putting their minds at ease about places where crime levels are lower than expected to raising alarms about areas where the crime rate is higher than thought. Tourists should be able to check the crime rate around the places they are staying to assess their safety. In other news, London’s bus and Tube fares will rise significantly in January to offset a shortfall in the city’s transportation budget. Bus fares will rise 12.7 percent and Tube fares 3.9 percent.

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