Travellers FAQ's
- Is it safe to travel to Asia and the parts of Europe with confirmed influenza cases?
- What precautions should I take if I am travelling to these countries?
- What precautions should I take before any international travel?
- What precautions should I take during international travel?
- What should I do after international travel?
Is it safe to travel to Asia and the parts of Europe with confirmed influenza cases?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not at present recommend any restrictions on travel to any country currently experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in poultry flocks, including countries which have also reported cases in humans.
At this time, WHO recommends that travellers to areas experiencing outbreaks of this disease in poultry should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms.
Travellers should also avoid contact with surfaces which may be contaminated with chicken droppings or secretions. Large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings and respiratory secretions from infected birds.
What precautions should I take if I am travelling to these countries?
People travelling to areas affected by avian influenza c are strongly advised to ensure that, if they haven't already had a vaccination against seasonal influenza, they have one at least two weeks before their travel. This will not protect against avian influenza but will reduce the chance of co-infection with both seasonal influenza and "bird flu".
This is recommended by the WHO and the advice is endorsed by the Ministry of Health.
What precautions should I take before any international travel?
See your doctor and possibly your dentist at least 4–6 weeks before travel to get the appropriate advice. This may lead to additional shots or medicines.
Check your health insurance plan or get additional insurance to cover you if you become sick or have an accident while you are outside New Zealand. You should also consider the possibility of cover in case you need medical evacuation.
Always educate yourself and others who may be travelling with you about any disease risks in areas you plan to visit (for information about H5N1, see the Ministry of Health Pandemic Influenza website).
Assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Get the right advice about this from your doctor or health-care provider.
Identify health-care resources in the countries you plan to visit in advance of your trip.
What precautions should I take during international travel?
Avoid all direct contact with poultry, including touching well-appearing, sick, or dead chickens and ducks. Avoid places such as poultry farms and bird markets where live poultry are raised or kept, and avoid handling surfaces contaminated with poultry droppings or secretions.
As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is careful and frequent handwashing. Cleaning your hands often, using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs, removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.
Influenza viruses are destroyed by heat; therefore, as a precaution, all foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood, should be thoroughly cooked.
This advice is also relevant for New Zealanders living long-term in countries affected by avian influenza. These people may also want to consult their local doctor for further advice
What should I do after international travel?
If you become ill with fever, difficulty breathing, cough, or any illness during this period, consult a health-care provider. Before you visit, telephone to tell the provider about your symptoms and recent travel so that he or she can be aware you have travelled to an area reporting avian influenza.