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Gabriela Kocmoud is hundreds of miles from her brothers, sisters, parents and cousins in her hometown in Mexico.
The 35-year-old College Station resident says she talks to her family in San Luis Potosi every day by phone or video chat to hear how they are coping in one of the cities hardest hit by the swine flu outbreak.
Kocmoud said it's hard being so far from her family, especially during something like this.
"They're doing fine, but right now they're in quarantine," she said.
Thousands of Bryan-College Station residents have family members in Mexico, where the H1N1 virus originated and where officials said 12 people had died and 300 had been confirmed as having the virus as of Thursday night.
Kocmoud, who lives in College Station with her husband, three children and stepdaughter, said she typically sends her family packages with toys and candy every few weeks.
Last week, though, she said, she included a different item: surgical masks.
Kocmoud's family told her that law enforcement officials had been handing out surgical masks at traffic lights, but that the few masks still available in stores were very expensive.
Kocmoud learned Thursday afternoon that the school where her sister teaches kindergarten, along with all other schools in Mexico, would be closed at least until next week.
"I'm worried," she said. "My cousin said if you go outside, it's like a ghost town."
On Thursday night, members of Santa Teresa Catholic Church in Bryan, which has a large immigrant population, gathered for the weekly Mass and prayer vigil, at which many remembered their friends and family in Mexico.
Among them is Santa Teresa's Father Raymundo Chavez, who is visiting friends.
A spokesman for the Austin Diocese said the bishop had instructed all parish employees, including staff, priests and deacons, not to answer questions from the media.
Bishop Gregory Aymond issued a letter to be read during Mass this weekend asking parish leaders not to offer wine during communion.
"It seems that having the public drink from the chalice is an unnecessary risk," the letter states.
The bishop's letter also asks anyone who is sick to stay home from Mass, saying, "It is not sinful to miss Mass if you are sick; it is an act of charity."
Angelita Garcia Alonzo, a leader within Santa Teresa's parish and a community organizer, talks to local Hispanic families every day.
She said she hadn't heard from anyone who has family members who have been diagnosed with the flu.
"The families are concerned, though," she said. She said many families were taking precautions in their homes because the virus continued to spread.
Kocmoud said she planned to buy surgical masks for her family in College Station -- just in case -- and recommended that people find out as much as possible about the virus.
"We're not at that level of exposure, but my family said to keep some masks for yourself," she said.
