Argentina: Crime is a serious problem here, but the biggest threats to visitors and foreign residents are traffic accidents. Traffic is heavy in Buenos Aires, drivers are aggressive, and accidents are common. An abnormally high number of these accidents involve pedestrians. Tourists are subject to street crime but have reported few incidents with public transportation (other than pickpockets) or at four- and five-star hotels. If confronted by an armed robber, be sure to have cash and hand it over immediately; victims are most often harmed when they have nothing to steal. Use a private car and driver or radio taxis (black and yellow in metropolitan Buenos Aires; white and blue in the provinces). Pay taxis and kiosks with small bills because vendors have trouble breaking large notes and may give counterfeit money for change.
In Buenos Aires, beware aggressive drivers, street criminals
Asian bird flu: The World Health Organization is concerned that the rapid spread of bird flu in East and Southeast Asia may move beyond some countries' capabilities to control it, raising the risk that the disease could mutate and become transmittable by humans. Laos recently became the ninth Asian country to be hit with the disease, and its poor public health infrastructure makes the disease there especially worrisome. To date, eight people have died from bird flu, most of them in Vietnam, though no one has been contagious to humans. The disease has been spread through contact with feces from infected chickens, so the risk to travelers is minimal, unless they venture into poultry markets. No disease has been contracted through eating chicken.
Zimbabwe: Formerly one of southern Africa's most efficient and appealing countries, Zimbabwe has been coming apart at the seams in recent years. It is in the throes of political and economic crises, and ill-conceived policies have decimated food production to the point that half the country is short of food and may face famine this year. If so, massive migration to urban or border areas could occur, and unrest would be likely. Nationwide fuel shortages have disrupted transportation, and crime has increased.
Editor's note: Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. From the United States, contact the State Department via phone (888-407-4747; 317-472-2328; 202-647-5225), fax (202-647-3000), or website (http://travel.state.gov); abroad, check in with the nearest US embassy or consulate.