What was supposed to be an economic development trip for the city of New Orleans has developed a case of the swine flu. A passenger on a flight to China, who was sitting near New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin and his wife, Seletha, developed suspected swine flu symptoms. The ailing passenger is under treatment, and the Nagin family are quarantined in a Shanghai hotel until further notice.
The Nagins, along with a four-member staff, were on a 10-day junket to China and Australia to drum up business for the Crescent City, as well as talking about government’s role in mitigating climate change, according to the Times-Picayune . They were notified Sunday afternoon that they would be quarantined in their hotel. The New Orleans team was scheduled to arrive in Sydney, Australia, mid-week, but plans are currently on hold. Meanwhile, Nagin’s CEO, Brenda Hatfield, is minding Crescent City business.