There’s no need to cancel your plans if you're planning to travel to a country that has experienced an outbreak of avian influenza. Health experts agree that the risk of contracting bird flu is very small. Still, it's a good idea to take some simple precautions to protect yourself from the virus.


Affected areas

As of February 2006, countries with confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu included:

• Cambodia
• China
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Vietnam

Even if you aren't traveling to these countries, care should be taken within the borders of these countries that have experienced outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry and other birds since 2004:

• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• China
• Croatia

• Egypt
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Nigeria
• Romania
• Russia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Vietnam

Precautions

In nearly all documented human cases of avain flu, the victims came in contact with infected birds or the feces of infected birds. There is some evidence that a few infections might have been caused by consuming uncooked duck blood.

Although it is important to understand that human cases are rare, you should still take the following precautions when traveling to countries that have documented cases of avian flu in people and/or birds:

Before leaving

Take the time to make adequate preparations before setting out on your travels. There's a lot at stake. Not only could you get sick, you could open the way for the spread of a pandemic.

• Be sure you’re up to date with all your routine vaccinations.
• Take along a health kit with basic first aid and medical supplies.
• Try to identify in-country healthcare resources before you leave home. You can find information about medical evacuation services from the U.S. Department of State.
• Check out health websites for international travelers.

As of February 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not recommending that travelers avoid the countries already affected by avian flu. Up-to-date information is available from both the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).

While traveling

Stay away from domestic or wild birds. You can dramatically reduce your risk of contracting bird flu by avoiding all contact with live or dead poultry and other birds. This includes visiting markets where poultry is sold.

Even birds that appear healthy could be carrying the H5N1 virus. Also, remember that the avian influenza virus can be inhaled, so stay well away from any area that may be contaminated with bird feces or other bodily secretions.

Only eat poultry and poultry products that have been thoroughly cooked. This includes food made with raw or undercooked eggs, such as mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, ice cream, or Caesar salad dressing. When dining out or cooking, make sure that the poultry you eat has no pink meat. Any juices should run clear. Eggshells can be contaminated with bird droppings, which can infect foods.

Wash your hands frequently. Washing your hands regularly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds is the simplest and best way to avoid becoming sick from exposure to many types of bacteria and viruses. Wash your hands before eating and after any possible exposure to poultry, eggs, or poultry feces. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizers for times when you are not able to wash your hands with clean water.

Watch your kids. We’ve all seen little kids put anything and everything they can find straight into their mouths, so watch them carefully.

If you become sick with flu symptoms, know that a U.S. consular officer can assist you in obtaining medical services and getting in touch with people back home.

After returning home

Monitor your health for at least ten days. During that time, see a doctor if you experience a fever accompanied by a cough, sore throat, or labored breathing. Make sure you tell your doctor where you traveled and if you had any possible contact with birds or a sick person.

Remember, there is no reason to cancel trips to countries that have experienced bird flu. So far, it appears that it is difficult for humans to catch the H5N1 virus.

However, even though cases in people remain rare, you should not travel with a false sense of security. It is important to follow the guidelines in this article to minimize your risk of infection.

See also

• What to do when living abroad
• The latest news
• What you need to know
• Government preparations
• Travel Nursing