For an ailing global travel industry, swine flu couldn't have erupted at a worse time.

"It has the potential to paralyze travel," says Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, which represents all segments of the U.S. travel and tourism industry. "Certainly if it gets out of hand," it will be catastrophic.

There are signs the situation is speedily getting out of hand. The U.S. government Monday urged Americans to cancel travel to Mexico if not essential, began setting up border checks and said a travel advisory would stay in effect as long as flu was detected. The European Union's top health official cautioned people not to travel to areas where the flu has hit. Other nations began taking precautions, such as checking passengers for signs of fever.

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