WASHINGTON (CNN) -- El Niño-fostered drought and a rash of forest fires are causing severe air pollution in parts of Central America, the U.S. State Department said Thursday, and that pollution is wreaking havoc with some flight schedules.

Honduras' four international airports (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Roatan), El Salvador's Comalapa International, Nicaragua's Augusto Cesar Sandino and possibly others "have experienced closures and flight cancellations due to poor visibility," the department said. Some problems have been noted in extreme north Costa Rica and southern Mexico as well.

The department also advised visitors to those areas to remain indoors as much as possible, especially if they have "a history of cardiac or respiratory ailments."

Sound off on our Travel Message Boards You said it...

Weather: CNN Weather Forecasts City Profiles, Guides and Maps: CNN City Guides

Related story:

• CNN Special Section: El Niño Returns

Related sites:

• U.S. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings
• CDC Travelers' Health: Mexico and Central America

Search for related CNN stories:   [Help] Tip: You can restrict your search to the title of a document. Example: title:New Year's Resolutions

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.