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Bird Flu – Information for Travelers - A TravelJ Special |
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| If an Avian Bird Flu pandemic strikes theres no doubt it will
have a devastating effect on the travel industry. This document touches
briefly on Bird Flu and provides advice for Travelers who are going to be
ultimately more susceptible if a pandemic strikes. |
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What is Bird Flu?
Bird Flu is an influenza strain of about twenty that infects birds.
While there is a mass of media hysteria regarding recent outbreaks,
Bird Flu has been in known existence for over 40 years. During this
time, the disease has become far more infectious and affects almost
every bird species in many countries world wide. One particular strain
of this disease that is particularly worrying is the deadly “H5N1”
strain – which has caused over sixty human deaths to date. While these
deaths have been caused from direct contact with infected birds,
scientists are worried that the virus could mutate and become highly
contagious between humans.
Should I defer travel to countries that have confirmed cases of Bird Flu?
No. At this stage Bird Flu is a relatively isolated disease.
Furthermore you can only become infected through the secretions of
infected birds. You have got a far greater chance of getting mugged or
falling ill with the common cold – so put everything into perspective.
Upon saying this, stay wary. Be sure you know about any possible
outbreaks that could occur. If hear of a suspected outbreak, you then
however may wish to reconsider.
Governments also provide up to the minute travel warnings for countries that have disease outbreaks. See: http://www.cdc.gov
The potential dangers of flying.
If an outbreak were to occur, be very wary about flying. Aircraft
provide perfect environments for spreading disease. Passengers are
often ballooned into Aircraft like cattle. Because they are within
close quarters for long periods and with the air being re-circulated it
drastically increases the changes of infection. Furthermore, what
happens if an infected passenger from a previous flight was sitting in
the seat you are about the sit in?. The news is not all bad. Many newer
commercial aircraft have filters that remove all germs from the air. Be
sure to check with your Airline.
When the SARS virus was first discovered in China, it had already
reached five other countries within just 24 hours. Todays high speed
air travel does make for a rather scary scenario. The 1918 pandemic
spread world wide – even though travel times were significant between
countries. With travel from one side of the globe to another in 24
hours – imagine how quickly a bird flu virus could spread.
How can I best prepare before traveling?
- Put together a first
aid kit. If possible, include a sanitizer and thermometer. A dose of
flu tablets such as Tamiflu and a respirator would be valuable
additions.
- Vaccinate. Be sure
that you have had all the recommended jabs before traveling. It is
believed that the common Flu jab may provide some degree of resistance,
but is not really known until scientists can identify the mutated form
of the virus.
- Watch and study the
news. Make sure you are up-to-date before you leave. Be sure to take a
small radio along with you so that you can keep up-to-date while
traveling.
- Take out travel health insurance.
What happens if I get caught up in an outbreak?
- If its not possible
to leave the area, you should avoid close contact with any other people
that are showing potential symptoms. You should cover your mouth and
nose with an approved respirator. Don’t cover your mouth and nose with
your hands – infact avoid such contact. Ensure you wash your hands (and
that others do also) regularly.
What happens if I get infected?
If you do start to show symptoms (fever, coughing, sore throat) be sure
to contact your consular officer immediately. They will then be able to
advise you on where to seek medial attention. There are anti-viral
tablets (such as Tamiflu) which may offer some relief. Visit this URL
for more info: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/index.htm
Also, be sure to isolate yourself from other people. You don’t want them to get infected.
If you are traveling to countries that have confirmed cases of Bird Flu
be sure to monitor your health for up to ten days after your return. If
symptoms do arise, be sure to see your health professional immediately.
Please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website for official Information
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
TravelJ takes no responsibility for the information contained within
this article and cannot be held liable for and d irect or indirect
damages that could occur as a result.
Article is Copyright 2005 - TravelJ
http://www.travelj.com - Travelers Resource and Information Network |
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