QUAD CITIES - Although the Quad Cities area hasn't reported any cases of the swine flu, companies are starting to take precautions.

Moline-based Deere & Co. has several operations in Mexico, including manufacturing plants for tractors, implements, engines and components, as well as marketing and credit departments. The Deere properties are located in Monterrey, Saltillo and Torreon.

"As a precautionary measure, Deere & Co. is restricting all nonessential business travel to and from its locations in Mexico as health officials continue to examine the swine flu outbreak that has drawn worldwide concern," Deere spokesman Ken Golden said. "The restriction is indefinite, and conditions will be monitored to determine when the restriction may be removed in the future."

Golden said the company has a half-dozen travelers in Mexico from other company locations but declined to list their hometowns. "We continue to communicate with employees about the outbreak, preventive measures and about travel restrictions."

Meanwhile, at Casa Guanajuato, a community center in Moline's Floreciente neighborhood, employee Maryann Garcia fanned out Tuesday across the largely Hispanic district. She posted signs at about 10 businesses, promoting hand hygiene and cough control.

"We have not heard of anyone who has been affected by this," she said, noting that most reports of the flu have centered on Mexico City, not the Guanajuato region from which many Quad-City immigrants hail.

Western Illinois University, which has a campus in Moline, halted all nonessential travel to the country.

"At this time, the summer study abroad trips to Mexico, as well as our summer exchange program with universities from Mexico, are on hold until further notice," WIU President Al Goldfarb said.

Representatives from Augustana College in Rock Island and St. Ambrose University in Davenport said they do not have any students in Mexico and will evaluate any future trips to the country as the time grows closer. Augustana has a study abroad program for several Latin American countries, including Mexico, scheduled for fall.

"It's just something we're monitoring right now," Augustana spokeswoman Kamy Beattie said. "We'll change plans if need be."

Representatives of area school districts also said they do not have any students in Mexico and no trips are planned.

(Deirdre Baker contributed to this report.)